BU Strengthens Partnership with Canadian University

30 July 2007

Key staff from Memorial University of Newfoundland witness Professors Paul Curran and Axel Meisen signing the Memorandum of Understanding

We’ve reaffirmed our commitment to continue developing international collaborations.

Earlier this week Professor Paul Curran, our Vice-Chancellor, and Axel Meisen, the President of Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand the existing partnership.

The MOU is for three years and its purpose is to establish the general areas and activities in which BU and Memorial will seek to collaborate, recognising the historic 400-year-old connection between Newfoundland and Dorset.

Memorial University is of a similar size to BU and is the largest university in Atlantic Canada, offering more than 100 degree courses.

Memorial University is home to a vibrant and innovative research community. Their researchers are exploring all disciplines, including science, medicine, arts, social sciences, engineering, education and business.

As outlined in the MOU, the two universities will look to collaborate on areas such as research work, including joint applications for research funding, staff exchanges and secondments. They will also examine ways of collaborating in the scholarly activities related to the 400th anniversary of the founding of the settlement at Cooper’s Cove (Cupids) by John Guy in 2010.

BU has had an official connection with Memorial since 1997 and several of its students have gone to Memorial University, to work primarily in the areas of engineering and archaeology.

Last year, a marketing manager from BU met with officials from Memorial’s Division of Marketing and Communications, Distance Education and Learning Technologies (DELT), and the Office of Student Recruitment, to learn how Memorial University markets itself.

Both universities are also examining a potential connection between BU and Memorial’s campus in Harlow. Professor Rosemary Pope, Pro Vice-Chancellor at BU, was recently appointed to the board of directors of MUN (UK), the legal entity with oversight responsibility for Memorial University’s Harlow Campus.

During his visit, Professor Curran toured both the St. John’s campus and the Marine Institute. He was then guest speaker at the Wessex Society’s public meeting at Hampton Hall in the Marine Institute. He spoke about the historical links between Dorset and Newfoundland, as well as current developments in Dorset and at BU.