• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part A - Agreements
• Types of Agreements
• Formal Requirements
• Contents of Agreements
• Section 4 - Section 4 -Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The University of Western Sydney is committed to the Internationalisation of its activities. Consistent with its international objectives and strategic directions, the University will maintain and foster existing and valued international partnerships, as well as develop new partnerships.

Section 2 - Definitions

(2) For the purpose of this policy:

1. International Partnerships - refer to partnerships between UWS and overseas universities, colleges and other educational institutions. In particular, this policy is confined to formal Academic Co-operation Agreements, and Supplemental Letters of Agreement, such as Student Exchange agreements. It does not include commercial contracts and commercial offshore programs. However, this does not preclude commercial contracts being developed later with institutions that are defined as International Partners within this policy.
2. Academic Co-operation Agreement - refers to a written agreement which formalises the intention of UWS to liaise with an international higher education institution for the general purpose of academic co-operation in such areas as research collaboration, joint academic and scientific activity, staff and student exchange, and the exchange of publications and materials of common interest.
3. Supplemental Agreement - refers to a written agreement which is supplemental to the Academic Co-operation Agreement with an international higher education partner institution, and which details the various aspects of a particular form of academic co-operation.
   1. Examples:
      1. Supplemental Letter of Agreement (Exchange) - a Supplemental Letter of Agreement (Exchange), for the purpose of student and staff exchanges, would itemise all the details of the exchange including the obligations and responsibilities of Home and Host institutions.
      2. Supplemental Letter of Agreement (Articulation) - a Supplemental Letter of Agreement would itemise all the details for an articulation from an award of an international education institution (e.g. Advanced Diploma would be given academic credit towards a UWS Degree).

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(3) International Partnerships will be developed in accordance with the University’s Mission and Strategic Plan.

(4) The number of International Partnerships will be linked to strategic objectives, and controlled to ensure agreements are active.

(5) The nature of International Partnerships will vary in response to UWS objectives and those of particular partner institutions.

(6) A diversity of International Partnerships will be encouraged.

(7) International Partnerships will be pursued for the purposes of the:

1. development of collaborative research projects;
2. organisation of joint academic and scientific activities, such as courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures;
3. exchange of research, teaching and other employed personnel;
4. exchange of students;
5. exchange of publications and other materials of common interest;
6. development of other joint projects of collaboration to mutual benefit, to be defined;
7. co-supervision of thesis and dissertations.

Part A - Agreements

Types of Agreements

(8) Each International Partnership as defined by this policy, will be formalised initially by an Academic Co-operation Agreement.

(9) A separate student exchange agreement (Supplemental Letter of Agreement, Exchange) will be supplemental to the Academic Co-operation Agreement, where student exchange activity emerges as a consequence of that Agreement.

(10) Other specific collaborative projects will also be detailed in separate Supplemental Letter of Agreements to the Academic Co-operation Agreement, as projects arise.

Formal Requirements

(11) Agreements will not be signed by UWS until all resource implications are identified, and appropriate resource allocation agreed.

(12) The Academic Co-operation Agreement and/or Supplemental Letter of Agreement pro-formas adopted for the purpose of formalising the partnership can be supplied by either partner, but must be acceptable to both partners.

(13) All agreements will be institution-to-institution. Any collaborative/ cooperative agreement between sub-academic units within either or both institutions (eg. School-to-School), will be supplemental to the general Academic Co-operation Agreement.

(14) The Vice-Chancellor and President (or nominee) of UWS will be the official signatory to all Academic Co-operation and Supplemental Agreements.

Contents of Agreements

(15) All Agreements should have a review/revision clause, and procedures for termination.

(16) All Agreements must be signed in hard copy. The original will be filed in the official Records and Archives Management Services Unit with copies placed in UWS International.

Section 4 - Section 4 -Procedures

(17) Determine whether the proposal is specifically for non-commercial or commercial outcomes (you may wish to refer to the terminology/definitions listed in Section 2).

(18) Some proposals may have the potential to develop commercial outcomes, but this may not be the initial objective.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(19) Nil.