ANU & Indiana University strengthen student & research ties

ANU and Indiana University (IU) in the United States have strengthened their relationship with a new agreement to bolster research collaboration, exchanges and teaching of less commonly taught languages.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC signed the new Memorandum of Understanding with IU President Michael McRobbie AO, who is an ANU graduate and the University's 2015 Alumni of the Year.

Professor Schmidt said the agreement would focus on collaborative research into the Asia Pacific region and would build on the ANU-IU Pan Asia Institute based at Indiana University.

"Both ANU and Indiana University are known for their expertise in Asia and the Pacific, and for a commitment to excellence in research and education," Professor Schmidt said.

"This agreement will provide opportunities for ANU students and staff to benefit through co-operative research trips to Indiana, and for IU students and staff to spend time at ANU."

Professor McRobbie said the new agreement would build on the close partnership between IU and ANU which dates back to the early 1990s.

"The ANU-IU Pan-Asia Institute has made many opportunities available to students and faculty at both of our world-renowned universities," Professor McRobbie said.

"In renewing Indiana University's active partnership with The Australian National University, one of genuine value based on our complementary capabilities and expertise, we will further the number of exchanges of students and faculty, while we also increase the number of scholarly and research collaborations between our two universities on a wide variety of important international issues."

The new agreement involves the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and the IU School of Global and International Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

It will foster graduate student research exchanges and exchanges by academics for up to six weeks at a time. It also allows for exchanges for distinguished scholars.

In langauges, the agreement will allow ANU students to apply for the IU Summer Language Workshops, and for IU students to apply for ANU-run In-Country Field Schools in Pan-Asian countries.

Both universities will also cooperate on the teaching of less commonly taught languages.