International Partnerships

Partnership Development

The Center for International Education and Global Strategy (CIEGS) manages international partnerships for UAlbany.

International partnerships are strategic collaborations which aim to leverage the strengths and capabilities of the parties involved, and which mutually support their priorities.

Types of Agreements

UAlbany partnerships are facilitated by different types of agreements.

agreement-types

No Agreement

In many instances, collaboration may not require an institutional agreement. For example: Collaborative International Online Learning (COIL), developing joint conferences, etc.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

An MOA is a non-binding agreement that establishes a formal partnership between UAlbany and a partner and outlines areas of mutual interest.

Engagements arranged under the framework of the MOA usually require separate, more specific agreements.

In many cases, having a formal partnership through an MOA allows students and faculty from partner institutions to receive funding for study or research at UAlbany.

Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions Agreements

An admissions agreement outlines the framework for admitting students from a partner institution to UAlbany. These agreements often create a streamlined pathway for admission by including specific conditions.

Transfer Agreements

Transfer agreements create seamless pathways for students from partner institutions to transfer into UAlbany programs.

These are typically undergraduate-level contracts. Most of our transfer agreements include a course articulation chart.

UAlbany has several one-plus-three, two-plus-two and three-plus-one agreements, in which a student spends one to three years at a partner institution and then the remainder of their degree program at UAlbany.

Dual Degree Agreements

Dual degree agreements — also referred to as dual diploma agreements or double degree agreements — allow students to earn two degrees simultaneously from UAlbany and a partner institution.

Such agreements require significant oversight to ensure the alignment of curricula and quality assurance, the recognition of transfer credits, confirmation and acceptance of certain policies, and proper student academic advisement.

Student Exchange Agreements

A student exchange agreement establishes a framework for UAlbany students to study at a partner institution and students from the partner institution to study at UAlbany for a set period of time while paying tuition and fees to their home institution.

These agreements are based on reciprocity and are designed to be balanced with the same number of students moving in both directions over a given timeframe.

Study Abroad Agreements

A study abroad agreement or clause within a student exchange agreement establishes a framework for UAlbany students to study at a partner institution and/or students from the partner institution to study at UAlbany.

These are non-reciprocal agreements. Students participating in non-exchange study abroad programs pay tuition and fees to their home institution and the home institution pays the host institution on behalf of the student.

Custom Agreements

In some cases, a custom agreement may be necessary. Contact [email protected] to determine whether a custom agreement is needed for a proposed partnership.

Propose or Renew an International Partnership

UAlbany schools, colleges and departments and their international partners must obtain approval from CIEGS to develop a department-specific or University-wide partnership agreement.

propose-renew

Step 1: Proposal Form

Complete the International Academic Partnership Proposal Form. A draft agreement may be attached, if applicable.

If CIEGS needs additional information after reviewing your submission, you and the potential partner may be invited to meet with Director for International Academic Partnerships Rachel Moody.

Step 2: Proposal Review

Next, your proposal will be reviewed by:

The CIEGS International Partnerships Standing Committee
The Registrar’s Office — only if the proposed partnership is not a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and a draft agreement was attached to the proposal form submission
The Office of Undergraduate Education and/or the Graduate School
The Provost’s Office

Your proposal must be approved by each office to move on to the next stage of review. It must be approved by the Provost to move on to Step 3.

Step 3: Partnership Agreement

If a draft agreement was attached to the proposal form submission, then it is ready for the partner’s and UAlbany’s authorized signatories to sign. (Note: This does not apply to Student Exchange Agreements or Study Abroad Agreements.)

If a draft agreement was not attached to the proposal form submission, the UAlbany schools, colleges and departments involved in the agreement and their partner will work with CIEGS to draft an agreement.

Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs), Transfer Agreements, Dual Degree Agreements and Admissions Agreements will be reviewed by the following offices once drafted:
- The Registrar’s Office
- The Office of Undergraduate Education and/or the Graduate School
- The Provost’s Office
- The Office of Enterprise Risk Management & Compliance and/or the Office of Regulatory & Research Compliance, as appropriate
Student Exchange Agreements, Study Abroad Agreements, agreements that are different from the UAlbany agreement templates and agreements that involve the exchange of funds will be reviewed by the following offices once drafted:
- Procurement Services
- The Registrar’s Office
- The Office of Undergraduate Education and/or the Graduate School
- The Provost’s Office
- Once all reviews (and any necessary updates) are complete, the agreement is ready for the partner’s and UAlbany’s authorized signatories to sign.

International Partnerships

UAlbany’s Global Academic Partnerships

Partnership Development

Types of Agreements

Propose or Renew an International Partnership