ATHENS, Ohio -- A delegation of officials from Japan's Chubu University, a sister university of Ohio University, visited campus this week, renewing a 30-year agreement and bolstering one of the most important relationships Ohio University has with another academic institution abroad.

Ohio University President Robert Glidden and Chubu University President Atsuo Iiyoshi signed the agreement Monday, adding scholarships and programs that will increase student and faculty exchanges between the two universities.

"Over the years, hundreds of Chubu students have come to Athens for a short program of study and our faculty have visited Chubu as visiting professors," said Josep Rota, associate provost for international programs at the Center for International Studies. "Chubu professors have helped with our Japanese language courses and we have university instructors teaching English language courses at Chubu. This partnership has enriched our campus and community and is an excellent example of an international collaboration in Japanese-American understanding."

Highlights of the agreement include:

• The Yamada Study Abroad Program, established in 1993, will add 10 undergraduate scholarships for Ohio University students to study at Chubu each year. Chubu and the College of Arts and Sciences will fund the program.
• Up to 75 Chubu University students will attend Ohio University's Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) for 15 weeks during spring and summer quarters.
• Establishes a new visiting professorship for a Chubu professor at Ohio University. The professors will teach in the Japanese language program or lecture in other programs.
• Continues the Kohei Miura Visiting Professorship, named for the founder of Chubu University, which sends an Ohio University professor to Japan each spring quarter.
• Establishes a tuition scholarship at the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.
• Four graduate fellowships and a tuition scholarship honoring former Ohio University President Charles J. Ping will be awarded to Chubu graduates.

The Ohio University-Chubu University relationship was established in 1973 when former Ohio University President Claude Sowle and Chubu University President Miura signed an exchange agreement. Since that time, more than 30 Ohio University faculty members have lectured at Chubu. The exchange was broadened in 1978 to include the assignment of English language instructors to Chubu for two-year periods.

Chubu University was founded in 1938 and became a junior college in 1962. The Chubu Institute of Technology was founded in 1964 as a privately endowed four-year engineering college. In 1984 it was upgraded to university status.

For the 175th anniversary of Ohio University, Chubu donated 175 cherry trees, which were planted along the bank of the Hocking River. An identical replica of the Cutler Hall cupola was sent to Chubu University as a gift on the 20th anniversary of the exchange agreement.