University of the Ryukyus and OIST Sign Cooperation Agreement

President Dorfan and President Iwamasa after signing the Agreement of Cooperation

On March 22, 2012, President Jonathan Dorfan of OIST and President Teruo Iwamasa of the University of the Ryukyus signed an Agreement of Cooperation (PDF) for the two universities. The universities plan to cooperate in several areas, including education and student affairs, science and technology research, and promoting innovation as well as collaboration between the government, the industry and the academia in Okinawa. The agreement expands on a previous cooperation agreement between the University of the Ryukyus and OIST’s previous incarnation, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation (it is now a graduate university). The presidents signed the agreement at the University of the Ryukyus after the university’s commencement ceremony, which both attended. It goes into effect on April 1 and will renew automatically every five years. “Together we can enhance the educational and research opportunities in Okinawa while at the same time supporting economic growth and cultural enhancement for Okinawa,” President Dorfan said.