The University of Hawaii and the University of the Ryukyus are marking the 20th anniversary of their educational partnership this week on Okinawa.

UH President David McClain is on Okinawa to discuss celebrating the partnership and discuss possibilities for new cooperative projects, including joint efforts with their medical schools, UH said in a news release.

The two sister universities have agreements between the law and tourism schools and a student exchange program.

The UH Center for Okinawan Studies is also working with the University of the Ryukyus on a new Institute for Okinawan Studies at Ryudai, which will open next year in Okinawa.

Both centers hope to collaborate to bring together scholars, students and researchers from around the globe to write about and discuss Okinawan language, culture, history, education, religion and other issues.

In November, scholars from UH and other American universities will go to Okinawa for a conference as part of a Human Migration and 21st Global Society project at the University of the Ryukyus.