The University of Waterloo is seeking members to establish a Task Force to review our current practices in establishing institutional partnerships, and to develop recommendations on a unified framework for principles for institutional partnerships across all institutional portfolios, considering existing principles currently being used within portfolios, as well as best practices from other institutions, communities, and countries.
These include partnerships that the University of Waterloo enters into with other legal entities, such as University-to-University international agreements, University-to-funder agreements, or institutionally stewarded advancement relationships. It is important to note that some inter-institutional agreements are required to support the activities of individual faculty members. The Task Force will need to consider these relationships in their work.
Call for expressions of interest
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to ask questions or submit nominations to serve on the task force by filling out this form by July 9, 2024. Nominations must be accompanied by a brief expression of interest, including related experience or expertise relevant to the task force's work.
The Task Force will consist of approximately eight to ten members, including faculty, staff, as well as undergraduate and graduate students. They will be advised in their work by a resource group from across various support units and subject matter experts and will consult broadly with members of the University community.
Thank you in advance for your interest, and we look forward to your feedback and participation in this important initiative.
Required skills and competencies
Task force members will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated sound judgment and critical thinking skills
- Experience with international engagements and partnerships
- Experience in international human rights law, justice, rights and freedoms
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion criteria, allowing for members to bring lived experiences and diverse backgrounds to bear on these questions
- Diverse representation across the University
- For faculty, academic experience with the subject matter is not required but would be an asset
- Experience with academic consultation and governance is desirable (for example, administrative experience within the University)
Mandate
The Task Force will:
- Review the University's existing policies and procedures related to institutional partnerships;
- Conduct an environmental scan of work being done on institutional partnerships by institutions, such as peer universities in the U15, as well as other international approaches; and
- Develop a set of principles that will ensure a consistent and transparent approach to institutional partnerships that reflect institutional values.
Timeline
The process to reach the objectives outlined above, including broad consultation with the University community and relevant stakeholders, should aim to conclude by the end of the calendar year.
Reporting and Communication
The Task Force shall provide regular updates on its progress to the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International. The final report and recommended principles shall be submitted to the President and shared with the Board of Governors and the broader community. The report and administrative response will be publicly posted. Any proposed development or revision of policies or guidelines will follow the appropriate governance pathways.
Background
The University of Waterloo engages in partnerships through many of its portfolios. These include, for example, corporate partnerships, co-operative education, advancement, international research, and international academic experiences. The offices that manage these partnerships, both individually and in some cases collectively, have developed principles and processes for such partnership engagements. The Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships will connect into this existing work and will also be supported by advisors who manage partnerships and subject matter experts from across the University community, including relevant support units.
The University of Waterloo engages in ongoing discussions around our institutional partnerships in accordance with our community and institutional values. The Vice-President, Research & International provides regular updates on new institutional research partnerships through standing reports to Senate.
In addition to reviewing the principles and practices that currently exist across the University, the Task Force will explore the development of an overarching set of institutional principles that will provide our community with clear and consistent guidance on engaging with institutional partners. This will be done through wide consultation with the University community.
The University of Waterloo's new values – to be presented to the Board of Governors in June – along with our existing and ongoing commitment to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, as well as recently developed safeguarding research principles, recent events and community discussions on what we value as a University, mean that an inclusive conversation is required on the subject of our institutional partnerships. This work will consider the institution's legal obligations, including sanctions, and the recently announced federal research security policy. The Task Force will also build on the new principles which will soon emerge from the Task Force on Freedom of Expression.