In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering innovative partnerships and advancing research frontiers, CKT-UTAS, Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) and Arnhold Institute for Global Health and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA, have initiated processes to reach a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would propel collaborative efforts in research, staff and student exchange programs, and various other mutually beneficial areas.
This meeting was held on the 24th of October, 2023 at the CKT-UTAS Council Chamber.
The stage was set as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, outlined the current standing and potential collaborations of CKT-UTAS during a high-profile presentation. He emphasised the institution’s strategic focus and readiness to engage in progressive alliances with the partner institutions.
This was further collaborated by the Deans of the Public health and Medical Sciences schools, Prof. James Akazili and Prof. J. B. Ziem, respectively, who took turns presenting their areas of interest.
Complementing this discourse, the team lead from Arnhold Institute for Global Health and Icahn School of Medicine, Prof. Rachel Vreeman, articulated areas where these formidable institutions could interlace their strengths to form a symbiotic alliance that would yield mutually beneficial outcomes.
The collaborators unanimously agreed upon several key areas where they envision substantial cooperation to reach an understanding:
- Institutional Partnership in Sourcing for and Managing Grants: Pooling resources and expertise to source and manage grants to fuel transformative research initiatives efficiently.
- Infrastructure for Education and Research: Joint efforts to enhance infrastructure supporting educational programs and research endeavours, ensuring state-of-the-art facilities for groundbreaking initiatives.
- Collaborative Research: Forming interdisciplinary teams for collaborative research projects aimed at addressing pressing global health challenges and fostering scientific breakthroughs.
- Staff and Student Exchange Programs: Establishing comprehensive programs to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences between the institutions.
- Community Health Seminars via Webinars: Leveraging digital platforms to organise and disseminate community health seminars, widening the reach of crucial health information.
- Short-term Training Options: Introducing specialised short-term training options, catering to the dynamic needs of the academic and research communities.
This meeting marks the commencement of a promising partnership, laying the foundation for a robust collaborative relationship that aims to set new benchmarks in global health, research, and educational advancement.
The shared vision and commitment of these institutions to leverage their strengths towards collective progress signify a significant leap forward in the pursuit of transformative initiatives and solutions to global health challenges.
With this strategic alliance, the world eagerly anticipates the impactful innovations and breakthroughs that will undoubtedly emerge from this collaborative effort in the future.
