Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

The academic rigor of the proposed institution

•    Are academic standards comparable to Lehigh’s?
•    Does the institution have a strong reputation for faculty and programs?
•    Can the partnership enhance Lehigh’s research efforts?
•    Does the institution’s strategic plan align with Lehigh’s?
•    Is the partner’s mission compatible with LU’s?
 

Existing successful programs

• Does Lehigh have existing programs that would benefit from the partnership?
• Is there an established faculty connection with the proposed partner?
• What initial projects will launch the partnership and require an MOU/agreement?
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Partnership sustainability

• Is there a significant student/staff/faculty interest in engagement with this institution?
• Is this partnership viable in light of the current political climate/world events?
• Do both academic calendars allow for traditional and non-traditional interaction/mobility between faculty and students?
• What are the anticipated outcomes of a partnership? How will its effectiveness be measured?
• What are the first activities for this partnership that build understanding at lower cost and risk? 
   

Overlap with existing partnerships

• Does it compete with similar partnerships?
• Does it address a gap in existing partnerships?
• How does it leverage existing partnerships or institutional strengths?

Partner institutional capacity

• Does the partner’s curriculum match Lehigh's needs?
• Are academic calendars compatible?
• What is the language of instruction? Language support?
• Does the partner have administrative support to facilitate the agreement?
• Are there any safety concerns?
• Is the planned activity legal for both partners to undertake?

Resources

• Will the department, college, or participating party commit resources to the agreement?
• What resources is the partner offering?
• What external support sources are available?
• What are the cost advantages of this partnership?
• Are the following support options are available at LU/partner:
  • faculty release time,
  • travel for site visits,
  • accommodations for visiting scholars,
  • aid for study abroad students, or
  • funding for special projects and collaborations
     

Outcomes and expected level of activity

• What are the first activities that build understanding at lower cost and risk?
• What is a reasonable level of activity for this fully developed partnership?
• Has it demonstrated potential for interdisciplinary activities in the future (engaging more than one Lehigh unit or department)?

Institutional monitoring

• Who is the Lehigh faculty member willing to sponsor the agreement?
• What is the term for agreement review (maximum term is five years)?

General Memorandum of Understanding agreement (MOU)

• To establish a relationship when both institutions believe a formal statement of interest would be an appropriate step
• Establishes a framework and states the intention of exploring potential for collaborative activities in different academic or research areas
• Does not include specific activities (those, like student exchange for example, must be implemented through addenda or separate agreements)
• Identifies and informs both parties about institutional concerns such as restrictions on immigration, technology transfers and intellectual property

Reciprocal Student Exchanges (RSE)/Bilateral Exchange agreement

• Provides for equal exchange of students between both parties
• Outlines financial, accreditation and immigration implications, with the exception of tuition costs (RSE participants pay their home tuition)

Short-Term Education Abroad agreement

• Details activities associated with semester abroad, short term faculty-led programs and internships
• Outlines program implementation expectations from both parties

**Programs must be approved by academic departments and follow policies and procedures established by the Office of International Affairs.

Research, Technical or Scientific Cooperation agreement

• Outlines the responsibilities and implementation procedures for faculty, researcher or administrator exchange between parties
• Must include approved financial and logistical implications

Graduate Studies Agreement

• Involving or related to graduate students
• Must be developed in coordination with college students  enrolled in

Dual Degree Agreement

• Provides structure for students to receive two existing degrees, one from each partner institution
• Course articulation and program coordination is required to allow for credit transfer according to existing undergraduate and graduate policies

Important Agreement Considerations

Before initiating any new international agreement, Lehigh University faculty and administrators should consider the following factors. As a general rule, if any of these elements are lacking, the agreement or MOU should not be signed:

• Previous faculty or staff interaction between the proposed partner institutions
• Strong potential for mutual benefit
• Compliance with applicable legal restrictions and university regulations
• Secured financial and infrastructure support (as necessary)
• Identified on-site administrators or contact persons at each institution
• Stated support from all colleges, departments and programs explicitly named in the agreement
• A plan for regular program evaluation and renewal

Lehigh faculty and staff interested in proposing an international partnership should follow this process.

1. To initiate a partnership, Lehigh University units, individual faculty, or staff should complete the New Partnership form (Lehigh login required) in the Global Engagement Directory or contact Stacy Burger, Director of Global Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives directly (Stb206@lehigh.edu)
2. The Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives will gather information and consult with relevant units at Lehigh and the proposed partner institution to assess the partnership's viability.
3. The Director of Global Partnership and Strategic Initiatives notifies the Export Control Officer (ECO) when a new partnership is contemplated and shares the relevant information, including, but not limited to, the New Partnership form.
   a.    The ECO will notify the Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives if the ECO determines that an export control license will be required in order to complete the activities proposed in the partnership.
4. The Office of International Affairs conducts Restricted Party Screening (RPS) on the entity and the identified partnering institution personnel, including the lead contact at the partnering institution.
5. The Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives will then draft the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) or other international agreements based on this proposal.
6. Agreements will be reviewed by the Faculty Committee on Global Affairs. The purpose of this step is to ensure that all the key questions have been answered, to check for duplication, and to identify opportunities for additional collaboration and network building.
7. Depending on the type of agreement, Institutional Research, Study Abroad, the relevant dean(s), department head, the ECO, and others impacted will review the document and provide feedback.
8. The document will be submitted to General Counsel for legal review. If it was previously determined that an export control license is required, the final document will also be sent to the ECO for export control compliance review.
9. The Vice President/Vice Provost for International Affairs, in consultation with the relevant deans or departments, will make the final decision regarding the international agreement.
10. The director will make sure the document is signed and sent to the appropriate parties at both institutions.
11. All related activity will be documented in the Global Engagement Directory and assessed on an annual basis. 

Every agreement should have at least one designated Lehigh University contact. The designated contact(s) will be required to submit a brief annual report to the Vice President/Vice Provost for International Affairs summarizing activities completed under the terms of the international agreement. 

Each agreement will have a five-year term. GPSI and the Faculty Committee on Global Affairs will evaluate each agreement on an annual basis for the following measures of success:

• Level of activity
• Student mobility
• Faculty mobility
• Faculty research, publications
• Shared grants