Partnerships with researchers, scholars, and institutions across the world are key to advancing research, teaching, student and scholarly exchanges, and engagement. Partnerships that are mutually beneficial to UT and the partnering institution are also fundamental to the university’s internationalization strategies.
As such, the Global Research Office administratively supports the formation of international partnerships and institutional collaborations. We track and process international agreements and agreement renewals and support an annual reporting on all international partnerships, sharing the report with the Vice Provost of International Affairs and the University Provost. We also maintain a searchable database of these agreements.
Steps to Create an International Partnership:
1) Determine the type of agreement sought. The types of agreements supported include:
Letter of Intent (LOI)
This short agreement broadly defines areas of common interest of two or more parties and enumerates possible joint activities in general terms. The LOI states the intent to cooperate and the desire of the parties to continue exploratory discussions and consultations. In some countries, an LOI may be essential for potential government funding or to allow faculty and staff to further explore collaborative opportunities. Typically, an LOI could be developed and signed at the conclusion of a first visit or following an initial series of discussions. It does not commit resources.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
This agreement establishes a more substantial framework for exploring collaboration and is for cases when it seems clear that there may be multiple possibilities for collaboration. The MOU identifies and informs the parties of the scope of activities that will be developed and the discussion that will be necessary before the implementation of any activities. It is signed before specific details of the collaboration are agreed upon. It does not commit resources.
Memorandum of Agreement for Student Exchange Program (MOA – Students)
This agreement is used to spell out, in detail, the specific areas and terms of undergraduate student exchange, including the roles, responsibilities, activities, and contributions of the parties. The financial and logistical implications must be discussed, decided, and included in the agreement. This is a binding agreement and may be amended only through the written consent of the parties.
Memorandum of Agreement for Faculty/Staff/Scholar Exchange Program (MOA – Faculty/Staff/Scholar)
This agreement is used to spell out, in detail, the specific areas and terms of faculty/staff/scholar exchange, including the roles, responsibilities, activities, and contributions of the parties. The financial and logistical implications must be discussed, decided, and included in the agreement. This is a binding agreement and may be amended only through the written consent of the parties.
2) Submit the required information through the International Agreement Request and Renewal form.
The form requests information about the history of the partnership, the goals, planned activities, whether or not the partnership is of strategic interest, financial resources to support the partnership, the points of contact at UT and with the partnering institution.
Following submission, the Global Research Office will communicate with the initiating faculty or staff, the department head, and the Associate Dean of Research and facilitate the processing of the agreement. It will then process the agreement, seeking the required university signatures to execute the agreement.
3) The finalized agreement will be shared with the UT points of contact, who may share the document with their international colleagues.
4) Points of contact will be asked to submit brief annual reports on the activities and outcomes of their partnership. These reports are an opportunity to promote the successes of your partnership. Reports will be collated and share with the Vice Provost of International Affairs and the University Provost.
5) Renewal notices will be sent to every point of contact as the agreement period nears the end of its term.