The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, alongside the University Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Chukwuka Icha has visited China, where he, on behalf of the institution, signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Chinese institutions to strengthen academic, research, innovation, and industry partnerships.
The MoUS are expected to open new opportunities for students, researchers, and staff, while expanding UNICAL’s global academic footprints.
During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor held strategic meetings with officials of partner institutions aimed at fostering collaborations in education, research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship development.
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The first MOU signed, is with the Southwest University for a period of five-year, and focuses on academic, cultural, and educational cooperations between both institutions.
Areas of collaborations include faculty and student exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, exchange of academic publications and materials, participation in conferences and seminars, as well as, short-term academic programmes.
UNICAL also signed a five-year agreement with Sanya Research Institute of Hainan University to strengthen cooperations in scientific research, innovation, and academic development.
The agreement covers the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological breakthroughs in tropical agriculture, joint degree and executive exchange programmes, and the establishment of a Joint Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Hub, known as the “Innovation Pod.”
Both institutions also agreed to promote stronger industry-academia collaborations through research commercialization initiatives, executive training workshops on technology transfer, and short-term professional development programmes.
Similarly, UNICAL entered into a two-year agreement with TusStar Business Incubator Co. Ltd for the establishment of the “TusStar UNICAL Innovation Centre.”
The centre is expected to serve as a regional innovation hub for technological, educational, industrial, and cultural collaborations between Nigeria and China.
Its areas of focus will include commercialization of university-based research, youth technical training, technology transfer, entrepreneurship development, and industrial growth.
Other areas of cooperations include innovation classes for students, technical management training, joint laboratories in renewable energy and artificial intelligence, online credit courses, and technology adaptation projects tailored to Nigerian industries.
The partnership will also support Nigerian and Chinese businesses seeking market expansion through localization services, research support, and business matchmaking initiatives.
While TusStar will provide technical expertise, training equipment, and international resource support, the University of Calabar will provide infrastructure, local industry linkages, and operational support for the innovation centre.
The UNICAL’s delegation visit featured a cultural tour of Beijing, including visits to the Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China.
