International Academic Agreements

What is an Agreement?

Non-Binding agreement / MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a nonbinding agreement that lists areas of possible joint activities, without creating financial obligations or committing resources. The purpose of an MOU is to acknowledge a formal, ongoing and strategic relationship and partnership between institutions that is intended to be long term, or to support a grant application.

Binding Agreement / MOA (Memorandum of Agreement)

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a specific agreement that involves financial arrangements, institutional obligations, or specifies the terms of academic programs. It can also be referred to as a contract and is legally binding. MOAs are used to establish collaborative degree programs, reciprocal exchange programs, research projects where funds are committed, or joint research centers.

Contact & Process

MOUs tend to be used for simple common cause agreements which are not legally binding . MOAs, on the other hand, establish common legal terms that establish a “conditional agreement”where the transfer of funds for services are anticipated.
 
For Utah Valley University faculty and staff interested in initiating an agreement with an international academic institution, please contact Baldomero Lago, UVU Chief International officer at [email protected] to understand the process, scope of the agreement and stakeholders at both institutions.
 
Prior to submitting a request for either a MOU or MOA, make sure you have the Department Chair and Dean’s approval.

PROCEDURES

  1. All international agreements must be reviewed by the Office for Global Engagement (GEO). Upon approval, GEO will present the recommendation to the General Counsel (GC) for legal review.
  2. Upon consultation between GEO and GC a draft will be outlined and consulted with the peer international university.
  3. When all parties have agreed, GEO will request approval from the Provost or Deputy Provost for final approval and signatures. The Provost or the Deputy Provost have the legal representation to sign international agreements.
  4. Once the agreement has been executed, original copies are kept in the Office for Global Engagement, Academic Affairs, General Counsel’s office and Deans office.
  5. All agreements must be written in the English language. Translation of legal outgoing agreements are the responsibility of the School/College, including costs associated with the translation.
  6. The average time period for this process may take 2 to 3 months, if all parties agree. Domestic agreements are handled by the office of General Counsel. 

SAMPLE OF A UVU MOU

Current International Contracts

International Institution College/School Country MOU/MOA Expiration
Far Eastern University Multiple Philippines MoU November 25, 2029
Liceo de Cagayan University College of Education Philippines MoU June 2028
Chonnam National University College of Education South Korea MoU April 2029
Khmelnytsky Humanitarian and Pedagogical Academy Multiple Ukraine MoU July 31, 2029

San Martin de Porres University

 College of Business Peru MoU December 13, 2024

Universidad Nacional De Moreno

 College of Business Argentina MoU July 7, 2029

Cambridge Security Initiative-Programme

 Center for National Security Studies UK MoA February 14, 2025

Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme

 Multiple UK MoA November 25, 2024
         

Expired International Contracts

International Institution College/School Country Expiration
Fachhochschule St Pölten University of Applied Sciences   College of Engineering & Technology St Pölten, Austria 5-Jul-23 
Centro Universitario de Oriente-CUNORI College of Science Chiquimula, Guatemala 15-Oct-21
Sanda University College of Humanities & Social Sciences Shanghai, China 7-Jan-20
Chuxiong Normal University College of Humanities & Social Sciences Chuxiong, China 11-Oct-21
Pädagogische Hochschule University of Teacher Education School of Education Zug, Switzerland 19-Dec-19
Pädagogische Hochschule University of Teacher Education School of Education Bern, Switzerland 19-Dec-19 
Pädagogische Hochschule University of Teacher Education School of Education Vaud, Switzerland   23-Jan-20
Pädagogische Hochschule University of Teacher Education School of Education Zurich, Switzerland  4-Feb-20 
Centro Peruano Americano "El Cultural" School of Education Trujillo, Peru  19-Dec-20 
Zhejiang Economic & Trade Polytechnic   College of Engineering & Technology Zhejiang, China  4-Feb-20 
Zhejiang University of Science and Technology  College of Engineering & Technology Zhejiang, China  29-Apr-20 
       
Ansal University School of Business Gurgaon India 20-May-20 
National Research University Higher School of Economics School of Business Moscow, Russia 13-Jul-22 
Shanghai Normal University School of Business Shanghai, China  
The Institute of Computer Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences School of Business Warsaw, Poland N/A 
The Andalusian School of Public Health College of Health & Public Service Granada, Spain 3-Feb-21 
Min Chuan University of Taiwan College of Health & Public Service Taipei City, Taiwan 19-Oct-21 
Hellenic American University College of Health & Public Service Athens, Greece N/A 
Pembroke College - University of Cambridge Greg Jackson Cambridge, England 9-Nov-19 
Pembroke College, University of Oxford Center for Constitutional Studies Oxford, England 31-Dec-21