National University of Equatorial Guinea to partner with Texas Tech University

HOUSTON, Dec. 2, 2013 November 25, 2013—Rector D. Carlos Nze Nsuga, from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE), recently signed an agreement with Texas Tech University (TTU) to establish a future collaboration between the two universities.

Following the meeting, Rector Nze Nsuga said, "We are confident that the agreement we have signed will allow our young university to lay the foundation, better organize and strengthen the research capability of UNGE in agriculture and other sectors contributing to socio-economic development of the country, with the establishment of laboratories and training of qualified human resources capable of overcoming the technological challenges that impede the diversification of the sources of economic growth by 2020."

The cooperation between the National University of Equatorial Guinea and Texas Tech University will foster the development and exchange of publications, data and other materials; share information regarding the scientific meetings and seminars that each university organizes, share documents and publications resulting from those activities.

D. Sunday Mba Esono, Consul General in Houston said that, "We appreciate the fast and effective interaction observed between the two institutions to reach an agreement of transcendental importance to both Universities and countries." He continued to say, "We must all understand that the relations of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation existing between Equatorial Guinea and the United States, alluded by President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during the Forum in Houston in June 2012, can be beneficial for the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as other development sectors, because of the atmosphere of stability and peaceful coexistence advocated by our government to ensure the future development of Equatorial Guinea."

The agreement also encourages student exchange programs. It aims to foster the participation of teachers, researchers and students in courses, seminars or conferences to be organized in each institution; support temporary exchanges of students, provided they meet the requirements; develop research projects, preferably joint ones, involving researchers from both institutions; support joint participation on international inter-university cooperation programs; support cultural and sports exchanges between the two institutions; support the groundwork and training for doctoral theses.

"This agreement presents Texas Tech with excellent opportunities for our university to partner with Equatorial Guinea's National University," said M. Duane Nellis in a recent release. "We look forward to a productive collaboration that will undoubtedly benefit both institutions in various ways."

Following the agreement, UNGE will make a formal invitation to Texas Tech scholars and teachers to visit Equatorial Guinea to become familiar with UNGE's capabilities in agribusiness in order to define the specific needs of cooperation.

UNGE will also invite a TTU professor to teach courses within TTU's Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program in Malabo. Regarding sports, UNGE will send staff to TTU to learn the management of sports facilities. On the administrative management curriculum, UNGE plans to send staff to TTU to learn from their expertise in this area. Student exchange programs have been a high priority to UNGE's curriculum and they plan to send their students to TTU for Post-graduate programs.

Vice Provost for International Affairs Tibor Nagy, who was also present at the meeting, said "Equatorial Guinea is an emerging energy power in Sub-Saharan Africa, having quickly risen in several years to become Africa's third-largest producer of oil. Equatorial Guinea is seeking to develop its infrastructure and human capital as well as diversify its economy."

"The country is seeking U.S. partners for developing its engineering, agricultural and tourism-related sectors," said Nagy. "This is a perfect match for Texas Tech."

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (República de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea