The National University of Samoa has signed an agreement with the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa to open the door to future collaboration and partnerships between the two institutions.

N.U.S. President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Alec Ekeroma, said in an interview that the S.R.O.S. has established itself as the premier research organisation in Samoa with internationally accredited laboratories and there is room for collaboration between both organisations.

"S.R.O.S. has the resources and their research is mainly on agriculture and we do have agricultural research because we have a diploma in sustainable agriculture so we have a little bit of agricultural research but not much whereas S.R.O.S. has got the most of that," Professor Ekeroma.

"S.R.O.S. is trying to move into the area of health research as well. Hopefully in the future, as we build up our school of medicine, we’ll be able to team up with the Ministry of Health in making sure that our school of medicine is leading health research."

Research and capacity development take time which the Vice Chancellor says is why it is good to team up with the best people.

Under the N.U.S.–S.R.O.S. agreement, students doing research with the university’s Faculty of Science will be able to make contact with the S.R.O.S. team. The university will also be able to conduct research together with the S.R.O.S. personnel, enabling the exchanging and sharing of knowledge, research and skills. 

"They’re interested in us as well like how we are interested in them in terms of some of their machines, chemicals and equipment. They’re interested in our Centre for Samoan Studies because they want to access herbal treatments as they are trying to do research on that," Professor Ekeroma added.

"They also do research with the Faculty of Science so they want to work closely with them."

S.R.O.S. Chief Executive Officer, Seuseu Dr Joseph Tauati, acknowledged the university and spoke of the importance of the agreement as they have signed numerous agreements with countries abroad. 

He also encouraged the N.U.S. lecturers who were present during the signing of the agreement to share their knowledge and research which the S.R.O.S. will be happy to make a record of.