Makerere University and Okayama University (Japan) have Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote research and innovation in the academic fields and to foster bi-lateral relations and cultural exchanges between Uganda and Japan.
The signing ceremony which took place on Tuesday, November 8th at the Japanese Embassy in Kampala was hosted by the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Kazuaki Kameda.
Okayama University has been promoting cooperation and collaboration with universities in East African countries through joint research and exchange programs with the aim of advancing international research in the field of Plant Stress Science.
The University has now expanded her field of cooperation to Uganda and the MoU will facilitate international exchange programs between the two universities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Kameda said; “the University of Okayama is one of the best in Japan, more so in the subject of sciences and agriculture that’s why am confident that the two institutes will do really well together.”
The function was attended by delegations from Okayama University in Japan and Makerere University.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, who led the Makerere delegation noted that “the two institutions operate in a highly competitive global environment, that’s why we embrace internationalization as a cross cutting factor and are always on the lookout for mutual beneficial collaborations that can further strengthen our competitiveness.”
Makerere has in the past partnered with universities in Japan in the fields of research, academic staff exchange and student exchange programs for over ten years in order to improve teaching, learning, research and to promote academic excellence.
Prof Ddumba further thanked the institute of Plant Sciences and resources at Okayama for agreeing to train one of Makerere staffers to a PHD level even before formalising the collaboration
The partnership will go for a period of five years and it will include not only sharing research but solving research problems, exchange students and lectures for more solutions in the fields of science and agriculture.
“The reason why we accept this collaboration is to help each other in the academic world and above all strengthen our ties between our two countries” the Vice Chancellor of Okayama, Dr Miyoshi Morito said.