The University of Aberdeen has put pen to paper on an agreement that will see it work with a leading Australian university in areas of shared interest.
The Memorandum of Understanding with Curtin University will promote the development of joint degrees and research partnerships across a broad range of disciplines including energy, medicine and literature.
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Curtin University has campuses in Sydney, Malaysia and Singapore. The MoU will see the two universities explore the possibility of working together at Curtin’s Southeast Asian campuses, as well as at the University of Aberdeen’s first overseas campus in Korea, due to open next year.
The agreement will also facilitate student and staff exchange and joint professional training opportunities for staff.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at a ceremony that took place at the Sir Duncan Rice Library, attended by Professor Deborah Terry and Professor David Wood, Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University.
University of Aberdeen Principal, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, said: “I am delighted that the University has signed this Memorandum of Understanding with Curtin University, which will see us work together in areas of mutual interest.
“The agreement will deliver a broad range of benefits for both universities, not least in terms of the access to each other’s experiences in relation to the running of overseas campuses and the development of joint teaching programmes and research partnerships.
“Our students and staff will benefit from the increased opportunity to travel and study abroad, while the agreements will increase the range and availability of work experience opportunities for students with a range of international employers.
“This is yet another step forward in the internationalisation of our activities, and is testament to our ambitions to position the University of Aberdeen as a global university at the forefront of teaching and research.”
Professor Deborah Terry, Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, said the signing of the MoU presented a wonderful opportunity to foster a strong working relationship and create new opportunities for students and staff from both universities.
She added: “I’ve been enormously impressed by what I’ve seen at the University of Aberdeen during my visit for the signing of the MOU. I believe it is going to be very productive and significant collaboration for both universities.”