PRABIA, Pontifical Univ. ally to further science, biotech
Representatives from the the Puerto Rico Agricultural Biotechnology Industry Association and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico sign the collaborative agreement.
As part of a shared commitment to promoting and supporting education, research and community outreach, the Puerto Rico Agricultural Biotechnology Industry Association (PRABIA) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico entered a general collaborative agreement to foster and provide opportunities to students majoring in science and biotech fields.
The alliance between PRABIA and the university comes at a historic moment in which Puerto Rico is ramping up its public policy of inserting the island in the global knowledge economy, based on strengthening research, innovation, academia and the development of qualified science professionals, the organizations said.
“The association is committed with the education of aspiring biotechnology students through research, internships, lectures and summer camps. The University and PRABIA both consider that increasing opportunities for cooperation and exchange to educate our communities is instrumental in creating a solid footprint to achieve sustainable growth,” said Beatriz Carrión, executive director of PRABIA.
“This is why our main objective is to develop partnerships and strengthen our relationship with the academia by educating skilled professionals who can contribute to economic development,” she said.
This agreement strengthens the platform that supports endeavors to be undertaken in the field of Agro Biotechnology and opens the door to new areas of research, said Pontifical Catholic University President Jorge Iván Vélez
Among the key points of the collaborative agreement between PRABIA and PUCPR, most notable are the development of an academic proposal for curricula in up-to-date AgBio topics and latest technologies, collaboration and active participation in both parties’ Steering Committees as Industry and Academia advisors, and cooperative design of courses, conferences, symposiums, lectures or academic programs.
Also, the agreement facilitates cooperative research and development of activities at PRABIA member companies. University students will be able to have their first year experience in the AgBio companies and these will visit the University to identify potential candidates nearing the end of their academic careers to recruit students as employees.
