Unitech, US uni sign pact

THE University of Technology (Unitech) has signed an intent-to-partner memorandum of understanding with the Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, United States.
Last Tuesday, Sister-Cities International officiated the signing in Lae as part of its sister cities programme that was announced in the US-Pacific Islands Summit last year.
Unitech vice-chancellor Dr Ora Renagi said the university had taken steps forward to accommodate this partnership.
“We have a new office of international partnerships specifically to foster the many relationships we have around the world and we welcome this new partnership.”
Renagi said the objective was to ensure that all students and faculty staff were also looking at the bigger picture.
“Life is not only in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“We have to make sure that our young people are thinking on a global level.”
He said the institution was looking to train engineers to combat climate change issues and look forward to partnering with Charleston.
“We are promoting renewable energy and our engineers provide training to address climate change.
“So we would like to collaborate on this critical area with partners like Charleston Southern who have the same goals.”
Renagi said through this partnership, Unitech could have some collaboration, exchange programmes and other working partnerships.
“Our innovative objectives are to up build our capacity in academic excellence, research excellence, financial sustainability and Charleston University can work with us to achieve these.”
Carlo Capua, chairman-elect of Sister-Cities International USA, said young people should be exposed to other cultures at early age to open their minds.
“I was changed forever when I came to PNG 25 years ago,” he said.
“That shaped me as a person and this partnership will help students at Unitech and Charleston
Southern to grow into global citizens.”
The partnership will help students in both institutions who are more empathetic, innovative and be prepared to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
Capua said these partnerships fosters innovation, create collaborative research opportunities and develop leaders who drive economic and cultural understanding.
The sister-cities programme also covers business, trade and tourism apart from twinning universities and other institutions once it was finalised.