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   TAINAN, Taiwan--(Business Wire)--National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) signed three Memorandums of Understanding(MOU) with AECOM, a U.S.-based technical services company, on environmentalprotection and city development through scientific and technical cooperation,natural disaster assessment and water research. NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung signed the MOU concerning scientific andtechnical cooperation with Tony Shum, chairman of AECOM Asia; Chjeng-Lun Shieh,director of Disaster Prevention Research Center (DPRC), signed the MOU ongeotechnical management and natural disaster assessment with Sean Chiao,executive vice president, AECOM Asia; and Tsair-Fuh Lin, director of WaterResearch Center, inked the MOU on water research with Chiao. Under the agreements, both parties will exchange scientists, professionaltechnical information and conduct educational training of technical staff inareas of mutual interest. The collaboration of NCKU and AECOM is promising, said Hwung, as NCKU is one ofTaiwan's top engineering universities whose students will be given moreopportunities to gain hands-on experience under the agreements. The partnership will benefit both parties as they share and develop research inthe areas of construction services, environment, water resources and citydevelopment. The MOUs will contribute not only to the professional training of technicalpersonnel but will also help with preventative measures against naturaldisasters, according to Shum. Disaster prevention is an urgent issue for global community and the research ondisaster management and prevention will benefit related industries, according todirector Shieh of NCKU DPRC, one of the main institutions for disasterprevention and mitigation in Taiwan. One of the missions for Shieh`s institution is to organize resources to tacklewith disasters caused by extreme weather conditions. Working with NCKU will allow AECOM to reinforce its research on water resourcesand other areas, according to Chiao. With a staff of over 45,000, AECOM is a global provider of both technical andmanagement support services to a broad range of markets. It serves clients in around 130 countries around the world and had revenue ofUS$8.2 billion (NT$245 billion) for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2012.  National Cheng Kung UniversitySonia Chuang, +886-6-275-7575 ext. 50042News Center1 University Road, Tainan City 701, TaiwanFax: +886-6-238-9919soniaselavy@gmail.comCopyright Business Wire 2012