Twinning anniversary celebrated with university link

The University of the Highlands and Islands principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Clive Mulholland, is travelling to Germany this week to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Augsburg University of Applied Science.

The signing, which will formalise the universities’ commitment to explore ways they can work together, is part of a range of activities organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the twinning between Inverness and Augsburg. Professor Mulholland is part of a delegation which has been invited to attend anniversary celebrations in Augsburg from Thursday 5 to Monday 9 May. Headed by Provost Helen Carmichael, the group includes local musicians and dancers who will perform at the proceedings. A group from Augsburg will make a reciprocal visit to Inverness in September.

Provost Helen Carmichael said: “I am delighted to participate in the commemoration of this very significant anniversary. The people of Augsburg have been our loyal and active twinning partners for 60 years and in that time our communities have grown to be very good friends. We look forward to continuing this beneficial relationship for many years to come and we are very pleased that the University of the Highlands and Islands has now established the basis for a potentially productive academic collaboration with AUAS.”

Professor Clive Mulholland, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: “It is a privilege to be a part of the celebrations marking the long and successful relationship between Inverness and Augsburg. I hope that our collaboration with the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences will help to extend this partnership, proving new opportunities for our institutions and our regions.”

David Henderson, chairman of Inverness Town Twinning Committee, said: “Our town twinning partnership with Augsburg has been a great success over 60 years, bringing much shared understanding, friendship and enjoyment to our two communities through the many exchanges that have taken place.

“It is excellent that the University of the Highlands and Islands and AUAS are now further strengthening our friendly partnership through their proposals to pursue academic collaboration. This is a fine way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our twinning with Augsburg.

“The Twinning Committee will continue on behalf of Inverness to promote and assist such exchanges, collaborations and friendly activities with Augsburg and our French twins La Baule and St. Valery.”