International agreement types

Waterloo's International agreements support a wide variety of activities.

In many instances international activities and collaboration can take place without the need for a formal agreement. However, in some cases, an agreement can be helpful or may be required to manage risks, define responsibilities, and meet policy or legislative requirements.

In other instances, an institutional-level agreement can serve to expand and enhance the partnership. To determine the approach best suited to your desired programming/activities and expected outcomes and/or to initiate an agreement assessment, submit a partnership request form.

For reference purposes, the following provides an overview of typical international agreements that the University of Waterloo engages in:

Joint academic program agreement

A bilateral agreement with a university partner that defines and facilitates students’ academic progress toward a joint or dual degree. Joint academic program models are defined by the numbers of years students attend each institution (e.g. 2+2 or 3+1+1).

Lead Unit: Waterloo International

Stakeholders: Faculties, Registrar’s Office, Senate, Finance, Legal and Immigration Services, Partner institution

Timeline to sign: Several Months to a Year

Applicable Signing Procedure: Procedure 25

Memorandum of understanding (MOU)

A statement of cooperation to formally acknowledge an institutional partnership and the intent to explore and promote various academic links. Areas of cooperation include collaboration on academic programs, development of joint research activities, exchange of faculty and university staff, exchange of students, exchange of non-confidential information, including the results of teaching or research collaboration.

Pathways agreement

A bilateral agreement with a high school, college, or university partner that defines admissions criteria to facilitate students’ academic progress toward a University of Waterloo degree.

Lead Unit: Registrar’s Office

Stakeholders: Faculties, Partner institution

Timeline to sign: Several Months to a Year

Applicable Signing Procedure: Procedure 25

Research collaboration agreement

An agreement that specifies common fields of joint research themes and activities including participation on research funding opportunities, mobility of faculty, students, and/or staff for research purposes, and/or workshops. Contact or-internationalresearch@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

Lead Unit: Office of Research

Stakeholders: Faculties, Centers and Institutes, Partner institution

Timeline to sign: Several Weeks

Applicable Signing Procedure: Procedure 1A

Strategic partnership agreement

A binding cooperation agreement (in contrast to the non-binding, exploratory MOU), to formally acknowledge and deepen an institutional partnership and to define how the partners will collaborate on and support joint academic activities. Activities may include the exchange of faculty, staff and students, cooperation in research, joint organization of academic activities such as seminars and workshops, exchange of academic materials and other educational information.

Lead Unit: Waterloo International

Stakeholders: Faculties, Centers and Institutes, Finance, Legal and Immigration Services, Partner institution

Timeline to sign: Several Months to a Year

Applicable Signing Procedure: Procedure 25

Student mobility agreement

A bilateral or multilateral agreement that defines the exchange of students between or amongst the partners in support of international academic, work-integrated learning, research and service objectives. These may be classified as traditional exchanges, hybrid exchanges (co-op), study abroad, summer school, travel courses, internships, Erasmus+, etc.

Lead Unit: Waterloo International

Stakeholders: Faculties, Student Success Office, Graduate Studies and Post-Doctoral Affairs, Finance, Legal and Immigration Services, Partner institution

Timeline to sign: Several Months to a Year

Applicable Signing Procedure: Procedure 25

Cotutelle

An agreement allowing for a dual graduate-level degree between institutions. See Dual PhD degrees (Cotutelle) | Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs | University of Waterloo (uwaterloo.ca) for more information.

Other

An agreement that does not fall within the agreement types above. For example, contract training, institutional-level cotutelle, scholarship program or membership opportunity. We invite you to submit a partnership request and/or to contact Waterloo International directly to discuss your interests in establishing an international partnership: international.relations@uwaterloo.ca

For additional information or questions on agreement types, contact international.agreements@uwaterloo.ca.