MoU to boost IMAS links with UC San Diego

University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) which will see the universities – both world leaders in particular research fields – work together on a range of fronts, including student exchanges and research internships.

Professor Rathjen said the agreement was born of an enduring, growing friendship between the institutions – a friendship based upon reciprocal visits and a mutual interest in research with global implications.

“Through our Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), The University of Tasmania shares interests with the UC San Diego, particularly in areas such as ocean science, climate and the environment,” he said.

“This aligns with the activities and focus of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with which IMAS already has strong ties.

“That an academy of global standing, like UC San Diego, chooses to work together with us shows that we are among a handful of organisations which is truly at the upper echelon of the worldwide research community.”

UC San Diego was recently placed by the highly regarded international ranking system, ARWU, as one of the best institutions in the world, based on a range of measures including research and graduate quality.

The MoU will lead to consideration of a range of initiatives including the creation of virtual classrooms and laboratory programs, joint degrees and summer programs.