University of Pretoria signs MOU with Collège de France
The University of Pretoria (UP) and French higher education and research institution Collège de France recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on research programmes, doctoral supervision and staff exchanges.
The agreement, signed by UP Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Themba Mosia and Collège de France Chair Professor Thomas Römer, is a resumption of a partnership agreement signed by the two research-intensive institutions in 2019. Prof Römer is no stranger to UP, having been an Extraordinary Professor in UP’s Department of Old Testament Studies since 2013.
“We appreciate these kinds of exchanges and friendships that develop into strong and productive relations that will mutually benefit us as science institutions,” Prof Mosia said. “We are encouraged by our colleagues from Collège de France for making the trip, and the interactions they have made with the UP community. I am sure we will be able to take it forward. We are excited by collaborations that foster sharing of knowledge.”
Prof Römer responded, “We are very happy to have this [relationship] with Pretoria, because we have some international collaborations, but when I was appointed [Chair of Collège de France] I realised that we had no collaborations with Africa, and I said, ‘This is not possible.’ And since I have some connection with the University of Pretoria and I know this university, and know it has a lot of potential, I approached them, and we set up some things.”
Collége de France is a public higher education institution located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1530 and established to teach disciplines that were not yet recognised at university level. Since its founding, the institution’s mission has been twofold: to be a forum for cutting-edge research, and teaching. It provides a forum for discussing and exchanging ideas, with many specialist conferences and multidisciplinary symposiums organised annually. It promotes and teaches research in progress in the sciences and the arts.
Prof Römer added that the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted some of the institutions’ plans, but some exchange professors from Collège de France still managed to visit UP. “This year, a physics academic will come to UP, and hopefully professors from UP will go to Collège de France and share their research, interact with research groups, and possibly bring young people who are doctors or students. I think we have great potential, and it is just upon us to make it work.”