Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria (UP), recently met with Prof (Dr) Rajinder Singh Bawa, Vice-Chancellor of Chandigarh University in India, at the University's Hatfield Campus to sign a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between the two institutions.

The signing of the MOI was significant as the arrangement allows both universities to explore and promote cooperation between the two institutions with a view to developing academic, teaching and research exchanges, and collaboration. This may include the exchange of academic members of staff for the purposes of lecturing and collaboration in joint research projects; participation in conferences, colloquia and symposia; and student exchanges.

Prof (Dr) Bawa was impressed with UP and said: 'Of the 150 universities I have visited around the world, I would rate the University of Pretoria as being in the top 20.'

Possible future agreements that may emanate from these cooperation activities will be further explored with the view to negotiating a formal cooperation agreement between the respective institutions in due course.