By Newswire Editorial
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved two proposals to enter into agreements with universities in the United States to strengthen cooperation in higher education, research and advanced technology.
The first agreement will be signed between the University of Jaffna and the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University in the United States to promote academic excellence, knowledge sharing and educational cooperation.
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to facilitate joint research and educational activities, exchange academic staff for research, lectures and discussions, and encourage undergraduate and postgraduate student exchanges for studies, research and internships.
The agreement will also support the organisation of joint conferences, conventions and seminars, while facilitating information sharing between the two universities.
The five-year agreement was proposed by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also approved a proposal to sign an MoU between George Mason University in the United States and Sri Lanka’s Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies to strengthen research cooperation in science and technology.
The agreement aims to facilitate joint research, identify technological challenges and develop solutions in several key areas.
These include cybersecurity, unmanned aerial vehicles, space and satellite technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning and 5G communications.
The agreement, which will remain effective for five years, is expected to promote mutually beneficial research collaboration between the two institutions.
The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Science and Technology. (Newswire)