Bindura University signs MOU with Indian instituti...

Bindura University signs MOU with Indian institution

Zim Now Writer

The Bindura University of Science Education on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the India-based Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, for collaboration in various academic and related areas, including research and innovation.

SOA University is a private university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. It was founded as the Institute of Technical Education and Research in 1996.

The university is composed of nine degree-granting schools and colleges and has a student body of around 15 000. Many of SOA’s programmes are internationally accredited, including engineering, medicine, pharmacy, business, nursing, biotechnology, science, humanities, environment, nanotechnology, materials science, agriculture and law.

Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice Chancellor of SOA and Prof Eddie Mwenje, Vice Chancellor of Bindura University of Science Education in Zimbabwe, signed the MoU at a function held at SOA in Bhubaneswar.

The MoU, which will be in force for five years from its signing, will facilitate collaboration in research with particular focus on the development of drugs, including anti-snake venom, from natural products.

It will also facilitate staff and student exchanges and curriculum development for both existing and future programmes.

Prof Mwenje was accompanied by Prof Courtie Mahadi, Director, Research and Innovation; Prof Mathew Mupa, Lead Researcher, Sodium Silicate Project; Tigere Chayamiti, Researcher, Development of anti-snake venom drug and Daniel Chihombori, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor.

Prof Mwenje later called on SOA Founder President Prof (Dr) Manojranjan Nayak and exchanged views on various matters. The visiting team later went around a few SOA institutes and held discussions with deans and faculty members.

Prof Bijay Kumar Sahoo, Dean, SOA’s faculty of Agricultural Sciences; Prof Santosh Kumar Rout, Additional Dean; Pramod Kumar Panda, SOA’s Chief Administrative Officer; Prof Nachieketa K Sharma, Director, University Outreach Programme; Prof Goutam Rath and Prof Pratap Kumar Sahu, Professors in the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Prof Sanghamitra Nayak, Head of Department of Biotechnology; and Prof Jagmohan Lal Gulati, Professor (Agronomy), were present during the signing of the MoU.