PACT MADE WITH RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 9, 1993                   TAG: 9303090130
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short
PACT MADE WITH RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY
A delegation from Russia's Kirov Polytechnic Institute signed an agreement of cooperation with Virginia Tech on Monday morning, the first day of the group's weeklong visit to campus.
The agreement reflects a desire of both universities to develop cultural and academic exchanges in the fields of higher education, research and outreach services, said George Stern, a Tech professor in wood science and forest products and host of the delegation.
The exchange will focus on design, construction and a variety of subjects that deal with forestry and wood structures.
So far, one student from each university has signed up for an exchange program that may begin as soon as this fall. Faculty members also will take part in the exchange program.
The delegation, which includes two people from the Ministry of Higher Education in Moscow and two people from Kirov, will be in town through March 15.
On that night, they will give a speech at the Continuing Education Center at 7:30 p.m. on "Life in Russia Today."
Delegates from Russia are: Yurij V. Piskmov, director general for Kirov Polytechnic Institute's Center for Research, Engineering and Manufacture of Building Structures; Vasily M. Kondratev, chancellor of Kirov Polytechnic Institute; Gennedy Alexandrovich Sasychev, head of the Department of International Scientific Programs for the Committee of Higher Education; Andrey E. Abramishin, State Inspection Board of Assessment of Higher Educational Institutions.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB