UTM, Hirosaki U celebrate 30 years of partnership

Agreements are signed to facilitate experiences and opportunities for each partner, but the work of educational and cultural exchanges is carried out “people to people.”
University of Tennessee at Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes traveled during summer to Japan for the first of several events marking a 30-year exchange partnership with Hirosaki University.
The celebration will culminate with Dr. Masahiko Endo, Hirosaki University president, visiting UT Martin during homecoming in October. Thirty-five UT Martin students and 21 faculty members have participated in the exchanges.
Making the recent trip with Dr. Rakes were Sandra Baker, retired UT Martin International Programs/International Admissions director, and Kyoko Hammond, UT Martin lecturer of Japanese.
“Our university has and continues to benefit from this partnership and others that serve to link UT Martin with people and cultures around the globe,” said Rakes.
In August, at a formal ceremony held at Hirosaki University, Rakes received an honorary doctorate presented by President Endo.
UT Martin and Hirosaki University entered into a formal university relationship in 1980 to foster educational exchanges, improve understanding between the United States and Japan, promote and support the exchange of faculty, administrators and students and subsequently develop cultural exchange programs.
As a result of the success of the relationship, UT Martin went on to use this original agreement as a model for other partnerships in Europe, Brazil, China and Korea. Today, UT Martin has agreements with 17 university education groups in eight countries.
“Along with Sandra Baker and Kyoko Hammond, I was able to experience first-hand the benefits and global importance made possible through our interaction with the faculty, staff and students at Hirosaki University,” Rakes said.
President Endo and a delegation from Hirosaki University were guests at the Alumni Awards Banquet recently as UT Martin celebrated homecoming. He was presented with a Chancellor’s Medallion for his professional manner, support and dedication to international engagement through multiple partnerships and involvement of faculty and student exchanges as reflected in the 30-year partnership between UT Martin and Hirosaki University.

Published in The Messenger 10.20.10

Print