Libya-Australia partnership opens doors for Murdoch University researchers

A new partnership between Australia and Libya will result in several Libyan students studying in Australia and several Australian experts teaching in Libya over the next four years.

Initiated by Mr Gary Marchioro, a lecturer from Murdoch’s Business School, Murdoch is part of an agreement between Woodside Energy (N.A.) Ltd and the Libyan Government.

Under the agreement, the parties will develop academic and scientific cooperation in health, agriculture, water management and environment with Omar Al Mukhtar University, Al Fatah University, the Academy of Graduate Studies, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, the African Centre for Infectious Disease Research, the Great Man-Made River and the Environment Friends Association.

Over the next four years, Woodside, Murdoch University and the Libyan Government will provide 20 scholarships to Libyans for postgraduate research studies at Murdoch University in the prevention and control of infectious diseases and integrated water management and environmental technologies.

The Australian delegation included Murdoch University’s Professor Andrew Thompson, Head of the World Health Organisation’s Collaborating Centre for Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, and Professor Steve Halls, Director of Environment at Murdoch University.

Under the Woodside sponsored pro-gram, the academics are expected to return to Libya in the coming months to work on projects between their Universities and Libyan institutions.

“Woodside’s commitment to support-ing the engagement of Western Australian business and the delivery of its corporate citizen program in Libya is commendable. This has provided a flagship model that could be followed by other WA based international corporations,” said Mr Tim Morrison, Acting Director of Murdoch University’s Division of Research and Development.

“Murdoch is very excited about this collaboration with Woodside and the opportunities in Libya for the export of education and research.”

Woodside’s General Manager in Libya, Dr Michael Hession, said the collaboration agreement was part of Woodside’s desire to contribute to the Libyan community.

“As we build our business in Libya, we feel an obligation to provide meaningful programs to enhance the quality of life for all Libyans,” Dr Hession said.

“Australia has much in common with Libya, particularly in environment and agriculture where we share similar climates and landscapes, and we have significant scientific and academic expertise that can help Libya.

“As with Libyans, the pursuit of education from the cradle to the grave is important to Australians and we are proud to be able to help link other Australian institutions to Libya in the pursuit of a closer relationship between our two countries.”