Jeddah,11.10.09: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Nottingham, UK to launch a joint scholarship programme named ‘Islamic Development Bank-University of Nottingham International Scholarship Programme’. The joint programme is launched within the scope of IDB Merit Scholarship Programme and the University of Nottingham Developing Solutions. IDB has been conducting the Merit Scholarship Programme for over 16 years now with the objective of developing human resources of its member countries in science and hi-technology sectors that are crucial for sustainable development. The joint programme will aim at placing talented and meritorious students from IDB member countries for study and research at post-graduate level, mainly for 3-year Ph.D. programme at the University of Nottingham. The MOU was signed on Saturday 10th October 2009 at the IDB by H.E. Birama Boubacar Sidibe, Vice President (Operations) and Professor Nidal Hilal, Director of the Centre for Clean Water Technologies at the University of Nottingham. On the occasion, the Vice President praised the university as one of the leading learning and research institutions in UK and a reputed name in the world. He mentioned that the university has been very supportive to the cause of IDB and offering high quality education to IDB sponsored scholars and students. He hoped that this joint scholarship programme will usher a new era in relationship between these institutions not only in promoting education but also in other fields of development. Prof. Nidal expressed satisfaction on signing the MOU and felt that this will open a new dimension to the university’s activities. He assured of the university’s assistance in other related areas of interest to the IDB.