Setting up a MoU

The foci for internationalisation is to establish resilient North-South partnerships – cooperative engagements that enhance the quality of knowledge production, and the development of socially responsive scholars who are committed to using education to transform the lives of the vulnerable and marginalised.

Role players in establishing a MoU

  • Researcher, Academic, Head of Department, Dean, Director, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
  • International Relations Office – contact our Office when intending to establish an agreement. We liaise with role players and report on international agreements for UWC.
  • Director of the Legal Office and team
  • Registrar
  • Rector and designate
  • DVC: R&I, TTO, RO
  • SIRC/SEC

Strategy, intent, foci

  • UWC’s IOP (2016-2020) sees internationalisation as a cross cutting theme in all its Faculties, academic and research initiatives, student experiences and community engagement. It develops strategic alliances and partnerships on the principle of reciprocity (mutual benefit) and equity (equality and mutual respect).
  • UWC’s internationalisation strategy is to partner with institutions across a wide spectrum of research areas and academic programmes, with the goal of deepened connections with institutions in long-term sustainable relationships, that aim to create new knowledge, build on existing scholarship and collaboratively address the global challenges facing humanity.
  • The foci for internationalisation is to establish resilient North-South partnerships – cooperative engagements that enhance the quality of knowledge production, and the development of socially responsive scholars who are committed to using education to transform the lives of the vulnerable and marginalised.

Kinds of MoUs

Memorandum of Understanding/Co-operation Agreements

  • Addenda to the above
  • Institution to institution
  • Department to department
  • Multiple parties, networks and consortia
  • Contracts/funding agreements/transactions for service/research projects

Agencies

  • DAAD, Erasmus, Horizon 2020, Intra-Africa
  • Local – NRF, DST, CSIR, HSRC, etc.
  • Embassies and governments
  • Faculty-specific stakeholders

Traditional tenets of agreements

“The new millennium offers unparalleled opportunities for universities – as centres of knowledge – to play a vital role in addressing the world’s concerns.” – The Glorion Declaration, 1998

Important themes which focus our goals (Prof Persens, 2009):

  • Concretising internationalisation through concept and practice such as ‘brain circulation’ and ‘service learning’
  • Developing the notion of study abroad and internationalisation-at-home (I@H)
  • Establishing and sustaining partnerships through internal and external collaboration
  • Promoting UWC through its unique features and niche areas – enhancing its international image
  • Concentrating international exchange and study abroad with the unique elements of the university course offerings
  • Striving for successful recruitment through quality and uniqueness

Ways of enhancing knowledge production:

  • Innovation
  • Benchmarking/comparison
  • Mobility for training and development
  • Access to equipment, facilities and new ideas
  • Developing and developed countries (individual realities)

Status of MoUs

  • Historic partnerships
  • Faculty specialisations (e.g. Law Winter School; School of Public Health service learning)
  • Duration of agreements and who implements, evaluates and reports
  • Renewal of agreements – confer with partner, review of past term, funding

Internal procedure for establishing an MoU

  • Discussion between counterparts – often following international visits, specific project interests and collaboration
  • Support and endorsement within the department and faculty
  • Our Office coordinates this internal process
  • We advise on existing agreements and procedures to follow (and report on once an agreement is established)
  • UWC checklist
  • Legal office vet
  • DVC: Academic signs
  • Registrar holds signed agreements

Primary functions of the IRO

  • Initiating, implementing, managing, advising and reporting on the University’s Agreements of Co-operation involving staff and student exchanges and teaching, learning, innovation, research and community engagement collaboration
  • Coordinating student mobility programmes
  • Hosting joint projects and events with partner institutions
  • Supporting best practice within the UWC
  • Facilitating incoming and outgoing exchange students and staff
  • Preparing programmes for international visitors
  • Implementing the UWC’s IOP strategies for internationalisation
  • Our Office works closely with the International Student Support Office (ISSO) which supports the enrolment of full degree international students.
  • The International Relations Office reports to the Vice-Chancellor and Rector

Strategic Partnerships

UWC’s internationalisation strategy is to partner with institutions across a wide spectrum of research areas and academic programmes, with the goal of deepened connections with institutions in long term sustainable relationships, that aim to create new knowledge, build on existing scholarship and collaboratively address the global challenges facing humanity.

Co-operation Opportunities

With exposure to an international context, the horizons of possibility expand for our students and staff, ensuring they are capable and equipped to participate in the global knowledge economy.

Co-operation agreements (MOU)

The foci for internationalisation is to establish resilient North-South partnerships – cooperative engagements that enhance quality of knowledge production, development of thoughtful, socially responsive scholars who are committed to using education to transform and improve the lives of the marginalised and vulnerable in the world.