An agreement between Georgia State University (GSU) and Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) was signed by Professor Risa Palm, Provost of Georgia State University and Professor Yoshikazu Miki, President of Aoyama Gakuin University at the President's Office at AGU on June 22, 2018.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, US, Georgia State University is known for its diverse student population of 51,000 students. It has also attracted global attention as one of the “most innovative universities in the US” having raised graduation rates and encouraged social mobility.

Professor Risa Palm explained about GSU's experience of educating "first generation students" (students whose parents did not receive higher education), while Professor Yoshikazu Miki touched upon the increasing financial difficulty amongst students in Japan in continuing education and how technology and humanities can solve the issue. Both agreed that each university could learn from each other.

Both universities will begin a partnership by promoting student exchange based on the agreement. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Professor Wolfgang Schlor, Associate Provost of GSU, and Professor Takashi Oshimura, Vice President of AGU.