Abuja — The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja is to collaborate with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. President of AUST, Prof. Hilary Inyang said at a forum organised for the visiting AIT scholars, that his institution was disposed to collaborating with AIT in the area of research in order to transfer technological knowledge to Africans, "Africa must be ready to borrow from elsewhere in order for us to attain that strata of advancement."

On what African educational institutions should do to accelerate scientific development, Inyang said the continent must tap from its pool of intellect, blaming the continent's poor technology credentials on the lack of capacity to tap from its intellect, adding that "the issue of trade protectionism has impinged on scientific and technological development of Africa."

Prof. Wuwongse Vilas, who represented AIT in the session, stressed the need for science-based education that is production- oriented, "our mission is in science and technology, therefore, we are very ready to establish links with AUST, in order to foster Africa's development, Vilas stated.

The two institutions are to sign a Memorandum of Collaboration, which will facilitate the exchange of programmes. Areas of agreement will dwell on academic exchange programmes, research, testing and supervision.