FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2022
Contact: Eddie Francis, efrancis@dillard.edu
504.816.4024
NEW ORLEANS–Dillard University and the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) have agreed to extend and strengthen a collaborative relationship which includes international research, an exchange of faculty/staff and students, and the development of an engineering English program for Japanese students, in addition to other activities. The agreement was extended after Professor Miryala Muralidhar, board of councilor of SIT, visited Dillard in October.
In a statement, Muralidhar noted that Dillard and SIT had signed a memorandum of understanding prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This trip aimed to improve our collaborations between SIT and further plan to send Japanese students to (Dillard),” Muralidhar said.
Under the MOU Dillard has collaborated with SIT on more than 10 published papers, two workshops and two conferences, and research on energy harvesting materials and future super conducting research projects.
“Dr. Darwish’s commitment to our students is why Dillard is one of the best in America in graduating African American physics students,” said Dr. Rochelle L. Ford, the University’s president. “This agreement is exciting, as making a global impact is part of our mission to cultivate leaders, and I am grateful to the Shibaura Institute of Technology for continuing their collaboration with Dillard.”
Dr. Abdalla Darwish, presidential professor and professor of physics at Dillard, said, “In light of the vision of our president, Dr. Ford, to have DU as an international hub of technology, this MOU will signify the exchange of technology and innovation between the U.S. and Japan. It will establish an environment for students’ critical thinking and training to flourish.”
“This is a great opportunity for both institutions,” said Mablene Krueger, interim provost and senior vice president of academic affairs and enrollment management. “Our students and faculty get the opportunity to research and interact with students and faculty from a well-respected international institution, and our friends from SIT will get the opportunity to experience the rich sense of connection and community that makes Dillard a special place.”
The collaboration is an effort of SIT’s Global Technology Initiative Consortium which is a collaboration among industry, academia and government for human resource development in Asia to foster global engineers and scientists. The purpose of the consortium is to put in place: global project based learning, international exchange, global internships, international collaborative research, intergovernmental projects and symposia. The consortium’s goal is to ensure that the collective of engineers and scientists learn from the world and contribute to global sustainability. The consortium’s steering committee consists of SIT in addition to other Japanese universities, Japanese-affiliated companies, government agencies and Southeast Asian universities. The Global Technology Initiative Consortium is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology in Japan.
About Dillard University
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.
