Green light for vice chancellors to sign MoUs directly with foreign universities
View(s):The Government has allowed vice chancellors of the 17 national universities to directly sign MoUs with international universities, University Grants Commission (UGC) Vice Chairman Chandana Udewatta said.
“The Government has given state universities the green light to sign MoUs with foreign universities and for them to enter into negotiations with them,” Prof. Udawatta said.
While vice chancellors of state universities can sign MoUs with foreign universities they will not be permitted to exchange money with foreign universities and instead will be limited to only an exchange of ideas and staff members, he added.
Meanwhile Prof. Niell Alles, the Director of the International Relations Office at the University of Peradeniya, said the Peradeniya University has also signed MoUs with a range of foreign universities that brings a host of benefits to the university.
Prof. Alles said the University of Peradeniya is hoping to sign MoUs with universities in Belarus, Japan, Russia, China and the USA. No MoUs will be signed with Ivy League universities in the US.
Prof. Alles also highlighted that the joint MoUs would allow for the exchange of PhD holders and staff and students. He said such a programme would start at the end of this year. The universities were also planning to have a rich cultural activity programme between the undergraduate students.
Prof. Niell Alles said when it came to student exchange programmes there were plans to formulate a documentary with students and staff, together with a new course or a joint course and optimal courses for international students.
Prof. Alles also said the USAID already created a website that would promote the Sri Lankan cultural activities produced by the Peradeniya University’s Fine Arts Department.
Both academic and non-academic members would be a part of the exchange programme and they would assist in the capacity building programme. In terms of non-academic activities, junior staff members reading for their Phd would be involved, as well as a few senior lecturers and post-doctoral fellows.
(By Priyath Wijewardena)
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