Leadership from Ohio State and Wuhan University gathered virtually to formalize an international agreement that will further engagement between the two universities.

Gil Latz, Ohio State’s vice provost for global strategies and international affairs and Tang Qizhu, Wuhan’s vice president, signed a renewal agreement that will provide opportunities for student and faculty exchange for lectures, advanced studies and research.

Ohio State’s colleges of Arts and Sciences and Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will partner with Wuhan’s School of International Education and School of Foreign Languages and Literature to pursue research in fields of mutual interest, especially cultural and language studies, social science, business management and natural science as well as student and faculty exchange.

The agreement extends a 40-year partnership between Ohio State and Wuhan University, which over the years established a Summer Student Overseas program (until 2014), a Summer Intensive English Program (2008-15), the Wuhan-Ohio State Center for American Culture (2011 – 2016) and a staff exchange program (2013 – present) with Ohio State’s Office of Student Life.

In tandem with the signing of the agreement, an Ohio State and Wuhan University staff exchange virtual forum took place, which focused on each respective university’s response to COVID-19 and the impact on teaching and learning and student services on their respective campuses.