Questions to Consider Before Entering into Partnership Agreements
Before initiating a new MOU or another type of international agreement, ODU faculty and administrators are asked to first carefully consider the following questions:
What is the purpose of the agreement? Do you need an agreement to do what you seek to do? Why?
- Is the partner's mission compatible with ODU?
- Does the partner's curriculum match ODUs?
- Is the partner's academic calendar compatible with ODU?
- What is the language of instruction? Is there language support?
- Does the partner have similar research interests/strengths?
- Are any of the following are available for support of this partnership: Faculty release time; travel for site visits; accommodations for visiting scholars; aid for study abroad students; special projects or collaborations?
- Will the department, college, or other participating party commit resources to the agreement?
- What resources, if any, is the partner offering?
- What are the cost advantages of developing this partnership?
- What is the current level of student interest in this country?
- Is there interest in this activity from multiple departments or colleges?
- Is there a commitment from the proposed partner to sending enough students to balance an exchange?
- Are faculty in the particular department or college supportive of this partnership?
- Are faculty in other departments or colleges interested in this partnership?
- What is the current level of faculty activity with this partner?
- Will any intellectual property (i.e. patents, copyrights, etc.) be developed during the course of the collaboration?
- Will any sensitive technologies or materials be involved?
- Will the proposed partnership compete with similar partnerships for students and faculty?
- How will the proposed partnership address a gap in existing partnerships?
- What are the initial areas of collaboration for this partnership that build understanding at lower cost and risk?
- When fully developed what is a reasonable level of activity for this partnership?