MATC Matters

A taiko (tie-ko) drum group kicks-off a special International Studies signing ceremony between Madison Area Technical College and Japan’s Kanda University.

The signing, which takes place Tuesday, Oct. 9 in the Boardroom at the Truax location, is the first student exchange partnership between a Wisconsin technical college and a Japanese university.

Governor Jim Doyle has been invited to this historic event.

Wisconsin has had a sister-state relationship with Chiba, (chee-bah) Japan since 1990. The partnership builds on exciting relationships by the Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and the Wisconsin Art Board.

Last year, the Arts Board included MATC English instructor Anna Purnell in the formal delegation, to help build a relationship between Kanda University and the technical college.

The 23 Japanese delegates are learning more about the educational, scientific and cultural exchanges between Chiba and Wisconsin. They’ll be returning home on Friday, Oct. 12.

Here’s Tuesday’s tentative schedule:

* 10:30 a.m. - Cultural drum performance in Mitby Theater
* 11 a.m. - Formal signing ceremony

The signing will take place in the Boardroom at Truax. Attendance is open but on a space-available basis.