The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, has stated that international collaboration is essential to advancing modern scientific research.

He made this statement while receiving research collaborators from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) during a courtesy visit to his office.

Professor Adebowale reiterated the university’s strategic vision of becoming a stronger research-driven institution and identified opportunities for future collaboration through student mobility programmes, faculty exchange, joint research initiatives, and broader institutional partnerships.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the university’s commitment to deepening international academic cooperation, advancing research, and exploring opportunities for infrastructure development.

He proposed the development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cover the different areas of collaboration and gave an assurance of the University’s openness to further discussions, particularly through the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships.

Professor Adebowale said that the University of Ibadan has continued to build strong town-and-gown relationships, noting that such partnerships are essential for meaningful academic and infrastructure development.

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‎He added that a collaboration with the Harbin Institute of Technology and CRBC would open opportunities for faculty exchange and student mobility, enabling the institutions to benefit from shared academic experiences.

The Vice-Dean of the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Liyan Shan disclosed that the institution was established in 1920 and is one of China’s foremost engineering and technical universities with over a century of excellence and global recognition in science and engineering.

She explained that the visit was to focus discussions on a proposed joint laboratory for the development of low-carbon and value-added technologies for solid waste management.

Professor Shan explained that the proposed laboratory would function as a collaborative platform rather than a physical facility, and it is aimed at promoting academic exchange, research cooperation, and capacity development between Chinese and African universities.

She disclosed that the project is supported by the Chinese government under competitive international research programmes across Africa, and proposals submitted under the initiative would undergo assessment before approval.

Professor Shan added that successful proposals would create opportunities for further partnerships, capacity building for participating institutions and research development projects, particularly in engineering and infrastructure-related fields.

She added that CRBC has a close relationship with Harbin Institute of Technology, hence the company’s involvement in the collaboration.

A representative of CRBC, Ms. Li Jiang restated that the corporation already has an existing relationship with the Harbin Institute of Technology and is currently collaborating with the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan.

She disclosed that CRBC is one of the largest construction companies in China which has been undertaking flood management projects in Nigeria, while the Harbin Institute of Technology is regarded as one of the country’s leading technical and engineering universities.

She explained that the CRBC Chinese partners had proposed areas of collaboration that would involve obtaining relevant details from the faculty as well as securing research funding for future projects, adding however, that the funding proposal was still under consideration.

Ms. Jiang also noted that the proposed partnership would focus on future research initiatives, exchange programmes, and the strengthening of academic ties between the University of Ibadan and Chinese institutions.

‎She further referenced ongoing and completed projects of CRBC in Akwa Ibom and Lagos States, the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project and projects in other parts of Nigeria, noting that the partnership would support physical infrastructure development within the University of Ibadan while strengthening institutional capacity.

The Principal Investigator of the collaboration, who is also the Director of Physical Planning and Project Management of the University of Ibadan, Professor B. I. O. Dahunsi reiterated that the visit was centred on exploring partnership opportunities between the University of Ibadan and the Harbin Institute of Technology through the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

Other guests on the visiting collaborators’ entourage were Professor Wencui Yang, Deputy Director, Provincial Experimental Teaching Demonstration, Centre of Transportation, Harbin Institute of Technology and Mr Biao Wu of China Road and Bridge Corporation.