Development and implementation of strategic alliances and partnerships (Mobility, Articulation, Collaboration, Research) procedure

Procedure

Intent and objectives

The procedures are to:

  • Guide the initiation, assessment and establishment of mobility, articulation, university collaboration and international research agreements
  • Ensure agreements are maintained and regularly reviewed for quality, compliance against obligations and performance
  • Ensure effective communication with the partner institution
  • Ensure the managed conclusion of agreements

Scope

University-wide

Exclusions

  • International tenders
  • Offshore taught program partnerships

Procedure statement

Types of agreement

Mobility

Student exchange occurs through a written reciprocal agreement between RMIT University and universities and education institutions overseas. These institutions are referred to as RMIT student exchange partner institutions

Student exchange agreements enable students to study at an overseas institution for a maximum period of one year while remaining enrolled at, and paying tuition fees (if required) to their home institution.

On completion of an exchange, the courses undertaken at the host university may be credited toward the exchange student’s award program.

Exchange agreements require the number of inbound and outbound students to be balanced over a 2-3 period.

A student exchange agreement is not required for ad hoc student visits or exchanges. In this case letters should be exchanged between RMIT and the collaborating institution.

PVC I&D is the University signatory for international mobility agreements.

Education Abroad Office (EAO) manages student mobility agreements

Contact: Manager, Education Abroad Office, International & Development Portfolio

Articulation

An articulation agreement provides for students applying to RMIT with a specified qualification from the partner institution to receive specified credit towards an RMIT award. RMIT must grant credit such credit where student satisfies the specified requirements.

Students applying under an articulation agreement are still subject to visa requirements and availability of a place at RMIT. An articulation agreement does not guarantee places for students entering under the articulation agreement.

Articulation agreements are only used where RMIT and the partner have a strategic agreement to pipeline students to RMIT. The annual average volume of activity expected would be at least 10 students per year.

PVC I&D is the University signatory for international articulation agreements.

International Services (IS) manages articulation agreements

Contact: Manager, International Admissions, International Services, International & Development Portfolio

University collaboration MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)

University collaboration may be initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). An MOU is a non-legally binding statement of intent to collaborate. Execution of an MOU may lead to legal agreements in respect of specific activities.

An MOU will only be entered into where the following arrangements are envisaged:

  • University collaboration across multiple activities
  • A major venture requiring analysis, planning and University-level decision

An MOU is not used:

  • where the parties have agreed activity and are able to move directly to a specific form of agreement
  • to support discussion leading to minor commercial activities
  • for ceremonial purposes
  • to record a visit to the University

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development is the University signatory for international memoranda of understanding.

Global Business Development Unit (GBDU) manages MOUs

Contact: Senior Advisor International Relations, Global Business Development Unit, International & Development Portfolio

Research

RMIT may enter into institutional partnerships to complement existing mechanisms for research support.

Such partnerships are aligned to RMIT’s research foci and are often built around the core research training activities. Institution alliances are University-level arrangements that aim to expand opportunities for individual researchers.

PVC R&I is the University signatory for research partnerships. PVC R&I consults PVC I&D in the case of international agreements.

Research and Innovation (R&I) manages research partnerships.

Contact: Director Research Partnerships, Research & Innovation Portfolio

Procedure steps and actions

Mobility, articulation and university collaboration (MOU)

1. Initiation

1. Initiation

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Opportunity identified

School/College or Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

As opportunities arise
  • Verify suitability of the partner institution

School/College in consultation with Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Prepare Request for Agreement

School/College or

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Approve Request for Agreement

Head of School and PVC Academic

  • Submit Request for Agreement to

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

School/College

  • Prepare advice and recommendation for PVC I&D

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit


2. Approval

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Approve / do not approve Request for Agreement

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of PVC (I&D) has delegated authority to execute an international agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Inform internal proponent of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

  • Inform potential partner institution of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development


3. Agreement

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Conduct due diligence and risk assessment on potential partner and proposed arrangement (commensurate with nature of arrangement)

School/College in consultation with Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

Upon approval of Request for Agreement
  • Prepare requirements of agreement in consultation with potential partner institution

School/College in consultation with Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Prepare draft legal agreement

Legal Services upon liaison by Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Prepare advice and recommendation for PVC I&D

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Agreement executed / not executed

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development has delegated authority to execute an international agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Inform potential partner institution of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development


4. Implement and monitor

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Communicate agreement to School/College, lodge with archives and record on operational database

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

Upon execution of agreement
  • Appoint agreement manager

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Appoint academic / project manager (as required)

School/College

  • Update register of responsibilities

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Publicise opportunities arising from agreement

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit

  • Deliver services against the agreement

School/College

For term of agreement
  • Assure activities against agreement and quality requirements

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit in consultation with School/College

Annually or as per agreement
  • Prepare and execute improvement plan ( as relevant)

School/College

As required
  • Report on performance of activities under the agreement

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit in consultation with School/College

Annually

5. Review

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Review to determine level of activity, quality of partner and services, support of School/College

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit in consultation with School/College

Bi-annually or at least 12 months prior to exp
  • Prepare advice and recommendation to conclude or renew agreement for PVC I&D

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit in consultation with School/College

  • Decision to conclude or renew

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development


6. Conclude

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Inform partner of decision to conclude or not renew agreement

Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of PVC I&D has delegated authority to execute an international agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Update agreements records and internal publicity

Education Abroad Office/ International Services/ Global Business Development Unit


1. Initiation

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Opportunity identified

School/College/Institute, Research and Innovation, or Global Business Development Unit

As opportunities arise
  • Verify alignment of the opportunity with relevant RMIT strategies, priorities and services
  • Verify suitability of the partner institution

School/College/Institute in consultation with Research and Innovation and Global Business Development Unit

  • Prepare Request for Agreement

School/College/Institute or Research and Innovation

  • Approve Request for Agreement

Head of School and Pro Vice-chancellor Academic

  • Submit Request for Agreement to R&I

School/College/Institute

  • Prepare advice and recommendation for PVC R&I

Research and Innovation in consultation with Global Business Development Unit


2. Approval

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Approve / do not approve Request for Agreement

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation in consultation with Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation (Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development) has delegated authority to execute a research (international) agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Inform internal proponent of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation

  • Inform potential partner institution of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation


3. Agreement

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Appoint agreement manager and form multi-disciplinary team (as required)

Research and Innovation

Upon approval of Request for Agreement
  • Conduct due diligence and risk assessment on potential partner and proposed arrangement (commensurate with nature of arrangement)

School/College/Institute in consultation with Research and Innovation and GBDU

  • Develop business case and International Implementation Plan (where research partnership includes a research award program) including specification and costing of services. (Refer check lists for research agreements and intellectual property)

School/College/Institute in consultation with Research and Innovation, Global Business Development Unit and Financial Services Group

  • Gain approval for International Implementation Plan (where required)

Research and Graduate Studies Committee

  • Prepare requirements of agreement in consultation with potential partner institution

School/College/Institute in consultation with Research and Innovation and Global Business Development Unit

  • Prepare draft legal agreement

Legal Services upon liaison by Research and Innovation

  • Prepare advice and recommendation for PVC R&I

Research and Innovation in consultation with Global Business Development Unit

  • Agreement executed / not executed

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation in consultation with Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation (Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development) has delegated authority to execute a research (international) agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Inform potential partner institution of decision

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation


4. Implement and monitor

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Communicate agreement to School/College/Institute, lodge with archives and record on operational database

Research and Innovation

Upon execution of agreement
  • Appoint academic / project manager (as required)

School/College/Institute

  • Source and allocate delivery resources

School/College/Institute

  • Publicise opportunities arising from agreement

Research and Innovation

  • Deliver services against the agreement

School/College/Institute

For term of agreement
  • Assure activities against agreement, quality requirements and financial outcomes

Research and Innovation in consultation with School/College/Institute

Annually or as per agreement
  • Prepare and execute improvement plan ( as relevant)

School/College/Institute

As required
  • Report on activities, outcomes and financial performance under the agreement

Research and Innovation in consultation with School/College/Institute

Annually

5. Review

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Review activity, outcomes, financial performance, quality of partner and services, support of School/College/Institute and alignment with RMIT strategy

Research and Innovation in consultation with School/College/Institute and Global Business Development Unit

Bi-annually or at least 12 months prior to exp
  • Prepare advice and recommendation to conclude or renew agreement for PVC R&I

Research and Innovation in consultation with School/College/Institute and Global Business Development Unit

  • Decision to conclude or renew

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation in consultation with Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation (Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development) has delegated authority to execute a research (international) agreement on behalf of RMIT.


6. Conclude

Procedure

Responsibility (Service group as per type of agreement)

Timeline
  • Inform partner of decision to conclude or not renew agreement

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation in consultation with Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Development

Only the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation (PVC I&D) has delegated authority to execute a research (international) agreement on behalf of RMIT.

  • Update agreements records and internal publicity

Research and Innovation

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