TEHRAN --Shiraz and Royal Holloway Universities have agreed to begin implementing an agreement the two signed in February, 2002.

Shiraz University's chancellor, Majid Ershad, said that the agreement is for a period of six months and aims to establish Persian language courses at the Royal Holloway University and exchange Persian language instructors and PHD students of various majors -- specially those in Persian language, educational sciences and psychology.

The agreement provides for short-term courses of the English language and literature by instructors from the Royal Holloway University in Shiraz, joint environmental research projects, inviting guest scholars for lectures, and joint seminars on water, soil, agriculture, and the economy.

Professor Michael Green -- head of the Science College of the Royal Holloway University -- accompanied by the university's chancellor, had traveled to Iran in February to negotiate the agreement.