St. Thomas will begin an international partnership with England’s University of Huddersfield after officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the school last month.

Executive Vice President and Provost Susan Huber, who signed the document Jan. 30, said the process started two years ago when the vice chancellor of Huddersfield visited 3M in Minnesota. Huber said George Buckley, a former member of the St. Thomas board of trustees hosted the vice chancellor and his assistants were hosted.

“We talked about curriculum. We shared ideas about research and different programs and departments,” Huber said. “We have so much to learn from one another.”

Huber said St. Thomas was drawn to Huddersfield because of its strong science and technology programs.

“Huddersfield University is reputationally a science and technology university,” Huber said. “We looked at opportunities certainly in the areas of science and technology. I think that’s where we’ll begin looking to collaborate.”

The universities have not decided what they will specifically collaborate on, but Huber said the possibilities include projects, grants, faculty research and student research with faculty members.

“We have specifically spelled out what that collaboration is going to be—that’s going to happen in the next couple weeks,” Huber said. “It will more than likely be in the area of science and technology.”

Senior and engineering major Stu Lombardo said he thinks the partnership has the potential to add value to his St. Thomas degree.

“There are only two schools that we can go to get credits to transfer abroad,” Lombardo said. “It is nice to have more options.”

Sophomore Christian Henning said the partnership could create more research opportunities.

“Research abroad over the summer or something would be super cool,” Henning said. “It would allow us to change the surroundings and just do something different.”