The exchange programme agreement makes it possible for five students from each university to work for three months within a research group at Santa Barbara or ETH, respectively.

"The students become acquainted with a different research and work culture and gain additional experience which they can use in global competition. The exchange programme also creates new partnerships, from which teaching and research at both universities profit. The agreement with Santa Barbara is a further step on the way to an ever stronger international networking of the ETH Zurich", explains ETH President, Olaf Kübler, after the signing of the agreement.

Henry T. Yang, Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Barbara, says the agreement is the sort of partnership that students and teaching staff need nowadays. "It is vital for scientists in today's global environment to gather international experience and to get to know colleagues around the world. This agreement opens up new possibilities and chances for our scientists."

Participants of the exchange programme have to stay at the partner university for at least three months. Their home university covers travelling costs and grants each participant 2000 dollars a month for living expenses (maximum 15'000 dollars). The programme is open to students from all levels: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate. Prerequisite is that the applicant works within a research group at his or her home university which co-operates with a research group at the partner university. The agreement is initially for four years and enters into force on 1st July 2001.