WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES?

International linkages are long-term mutually-enriching relationships between two or more academic institutions, departments, schools or faculties. XULA also may administer large institutional development projects involving close cooperation between universities in the U.S. and one or more developing countries. Occasionally, non-academic institutions may be involved in such linkages if they can play a valid role in teaching, research or international development activities. Linkages often originate through informal faculty or staff contacts, but eventually evolve into formal agreements which may cover a variety of forms of cooperation. XULA’s Office of International Education and Development within the Division of Academic Affairs has established protocols to deal with international linkage possibilities.

PRINCIPLES GOVERNING INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES

General XULA policies and rules of conduct apply to all students, faculty, and staff while participating in a University exchange program. Both institutions involved should subscribe to the principle of academic freedom.

While all exchanges are begun with the expectation that there will be continuing interest on the part of both institutions, all agreements should include a provision for review, for continuation or closure, every three to five years.

Many exchanges operate under a principle of reciprocity. For faculty exchanges, this means that small, informal exchanges need not require external funding. Although there may be no cash outlay other than travel support, the in-kind contributions of office space and administrative support should be considered. For some student exchanges, the reciprocity principle involves each student paying the tuition of the home university. This tuition is "banked" to pay the tuition of the incoming international student. Because of the financial implications of an imbalance created by lack of student demand, there should be a clear and continuing need for any bilateral exchange program.

HOW ARE INTERNATIONAL LINKAGE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHED?

As mentioned previously, international linkages often originate through informal contact between faculty or staff at two or more institutions who share some form of common interest. For short-term projects or academic interactions of limited scope or duration, no formal linkage agreements are necessary. However, if there is sufficient interest, support, and potential for long term interaction, then informal arrangements may evolve into formal international linkages.

All formal international linkages at XULA are coordinated through and administered by the Center for Intercultural and International Programs (CIIP). CIIP acts as a registry and clearinghouse for all XULA’s linkage agreements and provides assistance to faculty, departments, and colleges in developing international exchange relationships and agreements.

STEPS TO ESTABLISHING A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL LINKAGE

If a XULA faculty or staff member would like to establish an international linkage between XULA and another institution, she or he must follow the steps below:

Step 1: Starting Out

Step 2: Establishing Informal Contacts

1. Informal contacts with institutions abroad may be made by faculty, staff, administrators, or alumni. These steps should be followed in making informal contact:
2.  Notify the Director for the Center for Intercultural and International Programs that informal contacts are being made with an institution abroad.
3.  Prior to going abroad to investigate linkage possibilities, write, telephone, or fax the appropriate senior institutional official (usually the rector or vice chancellor) for an appointment.
4.  Obtain a letter of introduction from the senior university administrators, as well as bring material about XULA to exchange with prospective linkage partner.
5.  Subsequent to the visit abroad, develop a proposal to establish a linkage. The proposal should answer the questions stated in Step 1 above. Submit the proposal to and discuss it with the Director for the Center for Intercultural and International Programs.

Step 3: Negotiating the Linkage Agreement

1.  A clear and shared understanding of the benefits and objectives of the proposed linkage must be arrived at between the two institutions.
2.  Detailed preparation for the linkage should include input from and be based on the solid commitment of all XULA units to be involved. This is particularly critical in the case of student exchanges, where the issue of mutual recognition of degree credits would have to be seriously addressed.
3.  The initial formal contact may be between the presidents or other senior administrators of both institutions.
4.  An individual with overall responsibility for the administration of the proposed linkage should be identified in the proposed partner institution. At XULA, the Director for the Center for Intercultural and International Programs fulfills this role.
5.  Following the exchange of correspondence between the presidents/vice presidents/rectors or their designees, the administrator would initiate contact with the counterpart in the partner institution. This contact would seek to develop in greater detail the parameters set out in the initial contact between presidents or senior administrators.
6.  A preparatory visit to or from the international partner, involving the administrator and/or faculty may be deemed appropriate by both partners.

Step 4: The Agreement

1.  A written agreement should be prepared for signature by the president of each institution.
2.  At XULA, all international linkage agreements must be signed only by the president or Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Any agreement that is not signed by the XULA president or Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs is not a formal and does not commit the University.
3.  The agreement should contain the following provisions: mutual goals; definitions; a statement of who the expected participants are, and how many; payment of fees and other costs; mutual recognition of credits where student exchange is involved; responsibilities of each university; a clause providing for future rectification of weaknesses and problem areas in the agreement and renewal of the agreement subject to mutual satisfaction; a withdrawal clause (providing for advance notice).
4. CLICK HERE for the XULA standard Agreement Template (also referred to as the MOU "Memorandum of Agreement").
   
5.  Before an agreement is presented to institutional leaders for signing, it must be reviewed by the XULA Vice President for External Affairs (or Legal Counsel) and then the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. This might also be the case at the international partner institution. Once the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs has approved the agreement, the agreement will be presented to the XULA president for signature.
6.  Once the agreement has been signed by XULA and the international partnering institution, one original will be sent to the international partner institution and a copy to the XULA unit initiating the agreement process. The XULA original copy will be maintained in the Center for Intercultural and International Programs.
7.  Regular contact between the institutions following signature of the agreement will help to ensure that the link will remain relevant, effective and free of serious problems.

This document is inspired by the Office of International Education and Development at FAMU