The University of Ibadan through its Department of Communication and Language Arts (CLA), as part of its partnership drive, is set to partner INTI International University, Malaysia, on an exchange programme targeting faculty members and students.
The Dean of Faculty of Arts, Professor Solomon Oluwole Oyetade, made this declaration during the visit of the INT team leader, Prof Miew Luan to the department.
Oyetade while speaking, assured that the UI through its office of the International Programmes and the Faculty of Arts, is committed to making the partnership work as proposed.
The professor of Linguistics and African Languages, noted that the partnership is going to be “a mutually-beneficial arrangement”.
He said that, “As much as possible, we need to take advantage of it as a University and as a Department. And I must say that your Department of Communication and Language Arts is a leading light in the Faculty of Arts; it is the number one department that anyone would like to apply to because of the prospects in studying any branches of communication.
“Past students of this Department are making waves across Nigeria and and all over the world. Therefore, you have chosen the right department, and I want to tell you that you are going to get the best.”
INT team lead, Professor Miew Luan, while speaking restarted her university’s readiness to partner with the department through student exchange programmes, capacity building, and scholarship opportunities. She expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
Luan, a professor of Communication and Liberal studies, underscored the importance of partnership programmes, noting that it will promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance the students’ exposure to their hosts’ value system.
While responding to the motive of the partnership, Luan said her university prioritises learning beyond the computer and the books, hence, the need to expose students to native knowledge.
She said, “What is knowledge? Knowledge is on the computer and the Internet. However, we want students to learn the culture and the value system of the people”.
The Head of the department, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, promised unalloyed commitment to the partnership, especially as the Department is ready to support early career scholars
The duo of Professors Nkechi Christopher and Olusola Oyewo commended Luan and her university for the idea of partnership and exchange programmes, stating that it would benefit both the early career researchers and experienced ones.
Our correspondent reports that the event was attended by the other academics in the department.