Generally, the official trip to India has yielded stronger relationships with academic institutions, high profile professors, scholars and the leadership of Indian educational sector. Owing to the UL delegation negotiation skills and interaction with their Indian counterparts, UL faculty, students and staffs will benefit exchanges including bachelor, master and doctorate studies programs.
On two separate occasions, on Tuesday, 4th October and Thursday, 8 October 2022, the UL delegation held an informative and interaction sessions for about two hours with the President of Sharda University, Dr. Ashok Daryani wholeheartedly welcomed the delegation and expressed optimism for greater collaboration and mutual cooperation between the two institutions. The session brought together the academic team of the university.
The informative and interaction session with the Liberian students was organized to acquaint the students with the purpose of the official visit including the signing of a major Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Liberia and Sharda University. The interactive session held in Block Three Board Room was also intended for the students to share their candid thoughts about teaching and learning and other academic activities at the Sharda University.
As many as 21 students representing the total number of Liberian students currently studying in India attended the session to share their practical experiences and interact with the visiting delegation. They also discussed the issues of importance on the academic front. The students are majoring in several fields including: Pharmaceutical Science, Environmental Engineering, Nursing, Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Other fields are Bio-Technology, Environmental Science, Big Data Analytics, Sociology, Computer Science, Education, Industrial Microbiology, Business Analysis, Modern History, Computer Application, among others.
Atty. Sieh, on behalf of the UL President, Prof. Dr. Julius Jolokun Sarwolo Nelson, Jr, praised the students for their decision to challenge all odds to embark on the daunting task to travel to India to complete with their Indian colleagues to gain advanced education. He expressed happiness that Liberian students at Sharda University were able to speak very high of the standard and quality education especially teaching and learning at the institution.
According to Atty. Sieh, the MoU paves the way for Sharda University and the University of Liberia to expand working relationship at academic and mutual levels for the benefit of the two higher institutions.
He named major areas of benefits including exchange of faculty and sabbaticals, exchange of Ph.D. scholars, provision of scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate students, dual degree program, credit transfer programs, short- and long-term customized courses, joint collaborative research projects and publication of a joint peer-viewed research journal.
Also speaking, Associate Professor Dr. Josephus M. Gray, Dean of Prof. Amos C. College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Adjunct Faculty of the IBB Graduate School of International Studies thanked the students for their good academic performance in their respective areas of studies, and told the studhow much the delegation admired their resilience to press forward to promote Liberia’s image in India.
Dr. Gray informed the Liberian students that the delegation was very proud when the President of Sharda University informed them about the good demeanor and deportment the students continue to exhibit in relation to academic works.
He advised the students that their presence at Sharda University was a great opportunity to gain new knowledge in their respective fields of study. Dr. Gray then termed the students as the future of UL-SU ties. He encouraged them to adapt their learning to bring out the best and help them learn through meaningful work.
Dr. Gray said: “We appreciate the commitment and resilience of Liberian students in India in the face of adverse circumstances, and we hope that the students play the role of change agents in the society upon returning home to contribute to nation-building and human development”. He reiterated that upon completion of hard studies at Sharda University in India, the students will be in a better position to be hired at the University of Liberia and other places where their services and expertise are much needed.
The Chairman of the Department of Political Science, Assistant Professor Richmond S. Anderson who was part of the three-man high-powered delegation from the University of Liberia encouraged the students to focus on their studies. He reminded the students that they will be judged based on their deportment and interaction with their India counterparts.
The delegation appreciated the efforts of the Sharda University about the landmark agreement which has resulted into a great partnership between the two sisterly universities. Members of the delegation expressed their appreciation regarding the remarkable step towards a win win benefit for all.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, October 10, 2022, the UL delegation graced the 6th Annual Convocation of Sharda University in Greater Noida, New Delhi, India. The commencement convocation took place at Sharda University Auditorium, while Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was the Chief Guest for the event. Mr. Shri Yogendra Upadhyaya, Minister of Higher Education, India was the Guest of Honor.
The University of Liberia and Sharda University in New Delhi, India on Thursday, October 6, 2022, signed a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with focus primarily on capacity building, faculty and students exchange for the benefit of the two institutions. University of Liberia and Sharda University are respected globally and are leading institutes of higher learning. The MoU paves the way for Sharda University and the University of Liberia to expand working relationship at academic and mutual levels for the benefit of the two higher institutions.
The University of Liberia was founded in 1862 as Liberia College and became a full University in 1951. It is a public institution funded mainly by the Government of Liberia. The University now has four campuses: Capitol Hill, Fendall, Medical School Fendall, and Starz-Sinji campus located in Sinji, Grand Cape Mount County.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by high corps of academics including Deans, Professors, and officials of the Office of International Relations of Sharda University. The purpose of this MoU is to develop academic and educational co-operation and to promote mutual understanding between the two academic institutions, This MOU signifies a statement of Intent to collaborate.
The two academic institutions have agreed to develop the following collaborative activities in the academic areas of mutual interest, on a basis of equality and reciprocity.
During the signing ceremony, the President of Sharda University, Dr. Daryani reiterated the need for stronger ties between the two universities aimed at strengthening both institutions. The MoU paves the way for greater collaboration and partnership especially in the areas of capacity building, faculty and students exchange.
While in Delhi, the UL delegation also held discussions with high profile Deans, Heads of academic departments and Units, Academic Directors and Research Scholars to discuss the possible areas of cooperation. The delegation was taken on a guided tour to several facilities of the Sharda University including the school world class campus, the teaching hospital and the various academic departments.