Hitachi donates $50,000 to U of S

Posted July 27, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 24, 1998
98-07-07-ENG

Hitachi Donates $50,000 to the University of
Saskatchewan

Last week, Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. donated $50,000 to the
University of Saskatchewan.

This donation was part of a total donation of $150,000 that Hitachi
Canadian Industries Ltd. gave to the people of Saskatchewan in
recognition of their contribution to Hitachi's success during its first 10
years of business in Saskatoon.

The other organizations that shared the donation were the
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology,
Sherbrooke Community Centre and the Saskatoon Foundation.

The University's portion of the donation will be targeted towards the
College of Engineering's Innovative Teaching and Learning Centre.
Established in April 1997, the Centre's mission is to improve access
to, and successful completion of, Engineering programs, as well as to
improve the effectiveness of Engineering course materials and
delivery methods. The Centre also aims to increase the efficiency of
association with engineering programs by assisting faculty to utilize
innovative teaching and learning techniques.

"Money granted to the centre will be put towards projects such as
developing interactive and multimedia programs to facilitate student
learning, distance delivery of Engineering courses and professional
development courses for practicing Engineers throughout
Saskatchewan," says Roy Billinton, Associate Dean of Engineering.

Hitachi also provides support to the College of Commerce. This year,
and for each of the past six years, four MBA students have spent six
weeks at Hitachi Works in Japan. They work with the company and
stay in their dormitories.

"This work experience and emersion in the Japanese language and
culture provides our students with excellent background for their
future employment," says Lynne Pearson, Dean of Commerce.

The Saskatoon Hitachi plant is the company's sole heavy industrial
equipment manufacturing operation in North America. From
Saskatchewan, Hitachi manufactures and sells its power generation
components to markets throughout North America and throughout the
world.

During the past ten years, Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. has
expanded its plant several times in response to increasing demand
for the company's broadened product line. In the process, the
company has grown from its original 30 employees to 194 productive,
efficient employees.

For more information, please contact:

Roy Billinton
Associate Dean
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5280