Sal Lalani, who graduated with a degree in Economics in 1967, returned to Swansea along with leaders and key members of staff from Montana State University.

The delegation from Montana State University with senior members of staff from Swansea University during their visit to the Singleton campus.

They visited the Swansea campus and held talks about forging further links and partnerships between the two institutions.

Businessman and philanthropist Mr Lalani is a member of the Board of the Honors College at Montana and has been instrumental in developing the collaboration.

The party, included senior academics from Montana’s colleges of Arts & Architecture, Business, Education Health & Human Development, Engineering and Letters and Science, spent three days in Swansea leading up to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

Senior Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Iwan Davies and President of Montana State University Dr Waded Cruzado sign the Memorandum of Understanding (front). Looking on are (from left) Registrar Andrew Rhodes, Swansea University alumnus Sal Lalani, Chancellor Dame Jean Thomas, Commissioner Clay Christian, from the Office of the Commission of Higher Education Montana University System and Dr Miley Gonzalez, Vice Provost and Dean of International Programs

President of Montana State University Dr Waded Cruzado said:

 “A partnership between Swansea University and Montana State will strengthen both institutions.

“We are excited at the possibilities for cooperative research, exchanges and other opportunities that will benefit students and faculty.

“We look forward to continuing this new friendship.”

Montana State University, established in Bozeman, close to the Yellowstone National Park, in 1893, currently has almost 17,000 students and is among the top three per cent of US colleges and universities for research expenditure.

This latest collaboration comes just weeks after Swansea University announced a new partnership with Columbia University in New York, and it is hoped it will involve wider research collaboration and other benefits such as student exchanges.

Swansea University Registrar Andrew Rhodes said:

“Forging international partnerships with top universities really has been a crucial part of our success in recent years and we look forward to building on this new friendship with Montana.

“There is great potential here to benefit both universities and most importantly our students – whether it is by sharing research or establishing degree collaborations and an exchange programme.  

“Montana State University and Swansea University share much in common and we sincerely hope to be an asset to each other as we continue to build our relationship around the world.”