By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Oct. 10, GNA – The University of
Ghana on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA) to promote exchange programmes and other research
projects.
The agreement will help to promote research
and consultancy services, internship placements for students, educational tours
for faculty and students and joint public fora to educate the public on
research findings.
Professor Samuel Kwame Offei, the Pro-Vice
Chancellor, Academic Student Affairs, University of Ghana; and Professor Sandow
M. Yidana, Dean of College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana;
signed on behalf of the University while Professor Alex Dodoo, the Director
General of GSA, signed for the Authority.
Prof Offei said the collaboration was one of
the strategic priorities of the University to create a vibrant intellectual
climate that stimulates relevant cutting edge research and community
engagement.
He said the MOU would broaden the scope of
collaboration for students to have internships during their period of study and
gain hands-on experience in the field.
“The University has always encouraged
its students to undertake internships during vacations to be competitive in the
emerging market,” he said.
Prof Offei said currently, departments
within the University has developed internship as elective courses to bridge
the gap between industry and academic.
He said the University through the School of
Physical and Mathematical Sciences, has formalise engagements with relevant
institutions to streamline internship programmes.
“The University is focusing on the
commercialization of its laboratories and there is no better institution to
partner with than GSA which has the mandate of developing, publishing and
promoting standards in the country”.
He said the partnership would leverage their
strengths to promote the development of joint studies, research and training
activities and other educational programmes for mutual interest.
Prof Dodoo said with the collaboration,
there would be a significant increase in the number of students and faculty
working with industry to advance the frontier of research.
He said the country had battled with the
requisite research tools to bridge the gap between academic and industry,
stressing that the collaboration would build synergies in addressing the
challenges.
Prof Dodoo said the partnership would enable
students to conduct their Doctor of Philosophy course with the Authority by
identifying relevant problem-solving issue affecting the country.
This, he said, would propel business
opportunities for both parties and lead to economic development.
GNA
