The United Nations turns to Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities

Sitting (from left to right): Professor Noel Lloyd, Joint Chairman of the UWA and UWB Research and Enterprise Partnership; Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Standing (from left to right): Dr Huw Aldridge and Dr Paul Brewer from the University of Wales Aberystwyth; Colin Iago and Alan Davies from the University of Wales Bangor.

Sitting (from left to right): Professor Noel Lloyd, Joint Chairman of the UWA and UWB Research and Enterprise Partnership; Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Standing (from left to right): Dr Huw Aldridge and Dr Paul Brewer from the University of Wales Aberystwyth; Colin Iago and Alan Davies from the University of Wales Bangor.

04 October 2006

Wednesday October 4 2006
The United Nations turns to Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has turned to the Universities of Wales at Aberystwyth (UWA) and Bangor (UWB) for expertise to develop joint initiatives on environmentally sustainable economic development and reduce world poverty.

Dr Kandeh Yumkella Director General of UNIDO and Professor Noel Lloyd, Joint Chairman of the UWA and UWB Research and Enterprise Partnership will sign a Memorandum of Understanding at the launch of the Wales International Sustainable Development Framework which takes place at the Senedd in Cardiff on Wednesday 4th October.

The event will be addressed by First Minister Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM and Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP.

The agreement, which is for a three year period in the first instance, centres on the work of the Centre for Catchment and Coastal Research (CCCR). Specifically, joint projects, research programmes and opportunities for staff exchange will be developed focussing on areas of water quality, habitat protection and hazard management in river catchments areas coastal zones.

The signing of the agreement on Wednesday follows a series of visits by researchers at CCCR to the UNIDO offices in Vienna since early 2005.  

The UWA/UWB Research & Enterprise Partnership is an initiative of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government which is aimed at enhancing research and enterprise activities at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of Wales, Bangor.

CCCR is one of four initial joint research centres, the others being the Welsh Centre for Integrated Research in the Rural Environment, the Centre for Advanced Functional Materials and Devices Research, and the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies.