The ORA Exchange Program was initiated in 1992, with Carleton University as the operating institution. The Exchange was sponsored by the Ministries of higher education in both jurisdictions, Ontario and Rhône-Alpes but was operated by the two university systems. In 1998 the Program moved to the University of Ottawa. Funding came from both Ministries. Under the auspices of the two ministries of higher education, the universities of the two jurisdictions worked collegially within their own systems, and between the two regions.
When the Ontario government was suddenly unable to fund the program, twelve of the original seventeen Ontario universities came together to form a consortium to both fund and administer the Program.
As of October 31, 2001, the ORA Program began operating from the Program Office housed at the Keele campus of York University.  The office provides liaison with Ontario's partner institutions and Rhône-Alpes' partner institutions. Today, the program exchanges 50 students from each region for a total of 100  students per year.  

Academic Director in Ontario

llewin [at] ouinternational [dot] ca (Louise Lewin)
York University, Toronto

Ontario Program Coordinator

apoleszczuk [at] ouinternational [dot] ca (Agnes Poleszczuk )
York University, Toronto

Ontario Program Assistant

programs [at] ouinternational [dot] ca (Amy Jung)
York University, Toronto

Rhône-Alpes Coordinator

adeline [dot] blanchot [at] univ-lyon2 [dot] fr (Adeline Blanchot)
Université Lumière, Lyon 2

There are twelve (12) Rhône-Alpes Universities and fifteen (15) Ontario Universities participating in the ORA.

The ORA program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at the participating universities. Students are nominated by their home university based on that institution’s selection processes and criteria. The prospective host university is responsible for deciding whether to admit students and at what level (graduate or undergraduate).

Participating students must have completed 2 years of a recognized degree at their home university. Participating students will pay tuition at their home university and will be exempt from paying tuition at the host university. However, host universities may charge certain incidental administrative fees. Participating students will be responsible for their expenses abroad, including travel, room and board, health and accident insurance, miscellaneous incidental expenses that may be required by the host university, and other living expenses. Participating students are responsible for all aspects — academic, legal, medical, etc. — of their participation in the program. Students are responsible for arranging any transfer of credits to their home university.