UDs WELCOMES AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER
The Australian High Commissioner of Nigeria and Cameroon, H.E Jonathan Richardson paid a one day working visit to the University of Dschang on the 29th of April 2015 alongside a strong delegation made of Mirella Mahlstein , Development and Public Affairs Officer, Australian Honorary consul, Dr Diane Acha-Morfaw and Mr Alian Tegomo Awungia, PA to the consul. Receiving them at the Rectorate of the University of Dschang, the Rector, represented by the Vice Rector in charge of Teaching Professionalization and the Development of Information and communication Technologies (VR-EPTIC), Prof MPOAME MBIDA alongside members of the University community were delighted to welcome him at mid-day with an overwhelming and magnificent display from the fans club. The visit is aimed at establishing stronger educational ties between the Australian government and the University of Dschang through, programmes by the Department of Foreign Affairs, scholarships; Direct Aid Programmes (DAP), among others.
In a brief exchange session with the staff of the University at the conference Hall of the Rectorate, the High Commissioner stated that, he was pleased to receive such a warm welcome and emphasized the need to develop mutual cooperation. With over 10 years of experienced service in Ghana and Nigeria respectively, the High Commissioner of Australia to Cameroon indicated that the visit reflects growing ties between Australia and Cameroon and thus closer relation to Africa as a whole. He mentioned that in recent times the Australian government has been interested in programmes and with the creation of an honorary consul in Yaoundé which will provide valuable information to the Australian Government. He noted that, sponsorship of projects like the Direct Aid Programme (DAP) in collaboration with the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University (ANU) have worked with the University of Dschang on the prevention of neurological diseases “Konzo” and tropical ataxic neuropathy resulting from intake of cyanide in cassava . Worthy of mention too is the Cavies project(Guinea pigs) funded by the Australian National Science Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(CSIRO) as part of its partnership with Biosciences in Eastern and Central Africa. This is aimed at improving production, nutritional protein and income for women and teenagers.
The High Commissioner highlighted agriculture and mining as key paths to the programme of developmental cooperation by the Australian government that has spanned in West and Central Africa over the years. He hoped that such ties would eventually lead to the development of agricultural institutions across Africa since capacity building was enhanced through scholarships, training fellowship programmes among others. He added that a total of 77 Cameroonians have benefited from the Australian Award since 2010. While scholarships were available in short post graduate courses with a developmental focus and mostly from governments who have applied. It is worth noting that
Australia has one of the world's highest human development index, 2nd place after Norway ,with abundant natural resources , its biggest export industry is in international education, ranked 4th with the largest number of international students.