The Ritman University (RU), a privately-owned
institution in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State has
signed an academic exchange agreement with
Guildford College in Greensboro, North Carolina,
United States. Its Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Celestine Ntuen,
signed the agreement with Guilford President
Jane Fernandes to promote collaboration in
research, staff and student exchange
programmes. A statement on Guilford College’s website reads:
“The exchange programme will promote joint
research, lectures, conferences and professional
development programmes. Students of both
institutions will have the opportunity to
experience another culture through semester- long exchanges.” The statement also said there would be
exchange of ideas, information and materials
between lecturers and students of the two
schools. The hosting university, it was leant, will
grant full access to libraries and privileges
allowed by laws and policies guiding international students’ participation. By this agreement, Ritman University students
will have opportunity to undergo a period of
study in the U.S. and their counterparts will also
be in Nigeria for studies. The VC said the
agreement was is part of RU’s objective to
promote excellence. Daniel Díaz, Guilford College’s Director of Study
Abroad, said: “It is exciting to see the college
forging an international partnership that has
wonderful potential. Globalisation takes shape in
many ways, and this is an excellent example of
how the college is not only a part of that process but is leading the way.” Ntuen said the collaboration was one of the
programmes the varsity had embarked on in the
last four universities. He said some schools in
Korea and U.S. had already indicated interest in
working with RU.