KYOTO -- Doshisha University and Stanford University concluded an academic cooperation and exchange agreement Friday that both sides hope will strengthen the two schools' relationship.
Part of the agreement is for the Stanford Japan Center, now in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward, to move to the Doshisha University campus in Kamigyo Ward.
Officials at the two universities said the main reason for the move is to give the Stanford exchange students more opportunities to meet Japanese students and participate in Doshisha campus life.
"Our previous location was somewhat remote from the rest of Kyoto, making daily interaction with other Japanese, especially Japanese students, very difficult," said Masahiko Aoki, director of the Stanford Japan Center.
The Kyoto Stanford Japan Center's education and research divisions bring in students and academics from various of fields. Exchange students hail from 14 U.S. colleges.
"Over 500 American students have studied at the center, and many have gone on to become leaders, especially in the technology field, including Jerry Yang, one of the founders of Yahoo!," said Terry MacDougall, director of education at the Stanford Japan Center. "In fact, many who were critical of Yahoo!'s creation passed through the Kyoto Stanford Center."