Rector D. Carlos
Nze Nsuga, from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE), recently
signed an agreement with Texas Tech University (TTU) to establish a future collaboration
between the two universities.
Following the
meeting, Rector Nze Nsuga said, “We are confident that the agreement we have signed
will allow our young university to lay the foundation, better organize and
strengthen the research capability of UNGE in agriculture and other sectors
contributing to socio-economic development of the country, with the
establishment of laboratories and training of qualified human resources capable
of overcoming the technological challenges that impede the diversification of
the sources of economic growth by 2020.”
The cooperation between the National University of Equatorial Guinea and Texas
Tech University will foster the development and exchange of publications, data
and other materials; share information regarding the scientific meetings and
seminars that each university organizes, share documents and publications resulting
from those activities.
D. Sunday Mba
Esono, Consul General in Houston said that, “We appreciate the fast and effective
interaction observed between the two institutions to reach an agreement of
transcendental importance to both Universities and countries.” He continued to
say, “We must all understand that the relations of friendship, mutual trust and
cooperation existing between Equatorial Guinea and the United States, alluded
by President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during the Forum in Houston in June 2012,
can be beneficial for the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as
other development sectors, because of the atmosphere of stability and peaceful
coexistence advocated by our government to ensure the future development of
Equatorial Guinea.”
The agreement
also encourages student exchange programs. It aims to foster the participation
of teachers, researchers and students in courses, seminars or conferences to be
organized in each institution; support temporary exchanges of students,
provided they meet the requirements; develop research projects, preferably
joint ones, involving researchers from both institutions; support joint
participation on international inter-university cooperation programs; support cultural
and sports exchanges between the two institutions; support the groundwork and
training for doctoral theses.
“This agreement presents Texas Tech with excellent opportunities for our
university to partner with Equatorial Guinea’s National University,” said M. Duane Nellis in a recent release. “We look forward to
a productive collaboration that will undoubtedly benefit both institutions in
various ways.”
Following the
agreement, UNGE will make a formal invitation to Texas Tech scholars and
teachers to visit Equatorial Guinea to become familiar with UNGE’s capabilities
in agribusiness in order to define the specific needs of cooperation.
UNGE will also invite
a TTU professor to teach courses within TTU’s Masters in Business
Administration (MBA) program in Malabo. Regarding sports, UNGE will send staff
to TTU to learn the management of sports facilities. On the administrative management
curriculum, UNGE plans to send staff to TTU to learn from their expertise in
this area. Student exchange programs have been a high priority to UNGE’s
curriculum and they plan to send their students to TTU for Post-graduate
programs.
Vice Provost for
International Affairs Tibor Nagy, who was also present at the meeting, said “Equatorial
Guinea is an emerging energy power in Sub-Saharan Africa, having quickly risen
in several years to become Africa’s third-largest producer of oil. Equatorial
Guinea is seeking to develop its infrastructure and human capital as well as
diversify its economy.”
“The country is seeking U.S. partners for developing its engineering,
agricultural and tourism-related sectors,” said Nagy. “This is a perfect match
for Texas Tech.”