Developing International Partnerships

Getting started

Preliminary considerations

International activities and academic mobility occur without formal linkages and exchanges, and they are encouraged wherever those relationships fulfill the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. Developing and maintaining an institutional relationship beyond individual academic interests and connections, requires planning and commitment by the department initiating the exchange. In addition, meeting the expectations of both exchange institutions requires an ongoing commitment of financial and human resources. Examples of such agreements can be obtained from the Office of External Affairs.

Rationale

Address academic benefits to Bridgewater State University and identify the home and partner institutions' strengths relative to the proposed exchange. The exchange should fit within the mission of Bridgewater State University and offer a comparative advantage in relationship to other exchange programs. Consider whether there are existing exchanges in force in the same country or region (see exchanges list) and the relationship of the proposed exchange to ongoing relationships.

Planning and matching interests with the foreign institution

Mutual benefit is the key to successful international exchanges. Faculty and departments should assess participant expectations in both institutions to make sure that exchanges match at the appropriate institutional level.

Suggested steps

1. Make initial contact.

2. Agree upon a rationale regarding mutual benefits of exchange.

3. Secure agreement and commitment for required resources.

4. Agree upon expectations.

5. Develop a plan for implementation.

6. Determine the interests, size, and scope of the exchange:

   A. Is it reciprocal?

   B. Should the exchange balance on an annual basis?

    

7. Consider financial implications and obligations:

   A. Institutional support for faculty salaries and benefits.

   B. In-kind support.

   C. Currency restrictions and cost of living standards in the host country.

   D. Outside funding sources.

    

8. Establish participant selection criteria (both students and faculty):

   A. Determine required academic qualifications of participants.

   B. Consider curriculum adjustments.

   C. Consider level of language proficiency required.

   D. Consider credit transfer issues.

    

9. Determine plans for review and evaluation.

10. Establish accountability and administrative procedures.

11. Finalize protocols/written agreement and work plan.

12. Send agreement to Vice President's Office for review and signature.

Financial support

Many Bridgewater State University exchanges require no external funding and rely on the reciprocity principle.

Register your partnership agreement

International partnership agreements are required to be submitted to the Office External Affairs for the Vice President's review for approval . The formal partnership agreements are kept in the Office of External Affairs, which maintains a listing of all partnerships in order to document and assess the the impact of exchange programs on the University's global mission.

Informal academic exchange activities (such as faculty visits abroad and individual sabbaticals and teaching leaves) do not need to be documented by official exchange agreements; however, the Office of External Affairs also keeps records of these activities as a resource for future activities.