As part of our global mission, we are committed to providing guidance and support to the WashU community to help develop new international partnerships.
If you are seeking to advance an emerging institutional relationship, the resources in this section provide direction for initiating different international agreement types, renewing agreements, best practices, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Types of partnerships
To promote international cooperation in teaching, research and other fields of mutual interest, WashU often formalizes relationships with many non-US universities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Often, these relationships are first formalized in a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The parties may later formalize their relationship further with detailed legal agreements about specific joint projects or activities.
While WashU does not require nonbinding MOUs with global collaborators, often the collaborators will require an MOU, and WashU is happy to participate in such an MOU.
To begin the process of formalizing a relationship via an MOU, start by reviewing the guidance and follow the steps outlined for each agreement type.
An MOU is an explicitly non-binding document that contemplates collaborative activities and general statements of mutual interest to explore new opportunities for collaboration. MOUs may be institution-wide or specific to your department or unit at WashU.
MOUs do not include commitments of university funds, staff, facilities or other university resources. The MOU may serve as the first step in developing future agreements which are advanced through different processes (e.g., grant subawards, procurement agreements, data sharing agreement, dual degree programs, etc.).
Although an MOU is non-binding, international partners will trust and expect WashU to commit to pursuing the areas outlined in the MOU.
When gray areas arise, OGC will advise you on whether you need a legally binding agreement.
For ceremonial, non-binding MOUs, follow the MOUs Process.
Unlike an MOU, a legal agreement is a binding contract that details the terms and conditions of specific forms of collaboration and often requires review by a variety of stakeholders on campus. A legal agreement includes terms that purport to bind WashU to commitment of resources, specific measurable effort of faculty or WashU staff, space, or detailed statements of work.
Below are some examples of terms and conditions that may be included in a legal agreement:
- Pricing or payment terms;
- Deliverables required, including technical reports;
- A specific scope of work is included;
- Intellectual property ownership or licensing terms;
- Publication limitations;
- Confidentiality terms that infer a sharing of proprietary, human subjects, or other sensitive data;
- Commitment of resources such as facilities, equipment, personnel, or students.
The Joint Research Office for Contracts (JROC) oversees the process for research agreements, including those listed below. For more information, contact researchcontracts@wusm.washu.edu.
- Collaboration agreements (around a specific research proposal/project, with a defined scope for collaboration)
- Clinical Trial Agreements
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Data Transfer Agreements
- Incoming Subawards
The Office of Sponsored Research Services (OSRS) oversees the process for outgoing subawards. For more information, contact wucontracts@email.washu.edu
How to initiate each type of agreement
The following agreement types require review by the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs (VPGEIA) prior to signing. Fully executed agreements must be submitted using this form and are collected in the WashU Global SharePoint Database. For questions regarding these agreement types, contact global@wustl.edu.
Agreement types
MOU
Ceremonial, non-binding
Initial Point of Contact: WashU Global
Follow steps outlined in MOUs Process. Begin process by submitting the Partnership Proposal Form.
For the School of Medicine, initial consultation with Caline Mattar, Director of Global Health Education and Partnerships.
Review Process: Initial review by the VPGEIA and OGC. May require subsequent review by other entities in addition to your School Dean, depending on the type of activities.
Authorized Signatory: VPGEIA*, School Deans
MOU Addendum/
Amendment
For renewal or amendment of original terms
Initial Point of Contact: WashU Global
Follow steps outlined in Renewing Agreements. Begin process by submitting the Partnership Proposal Form.
For the School of Medicine, initial consultation with Caline Mattar, Director of Global Health Education and Partnerships.
Review Process: Initial review by the VPGEIA and OGC. May require subsequent review by other entities in addition to your School Dean, depending on the type of activities.
Authorized Signatory: VPGEIA, School Deans
Student Exchange/ Study Abroad or Faculty Exchange Agreements
Involving student or faculty exchange to engage in coursework, research and/or teaching at WashU or the partner institution, e.g., study abroad programs**
Initial Point of Contact: Start at school deans-level.
For the School of Medicine, initial consultation with Caline Mattar, Director of Global Health Education and Partnerships.
Review Process: Initial review by a school dean, followed by OGC and the VPGEIA. Once your school has reviewed the agreement, submit the draft document for review by OGC and the VPGEIA using the Partnership Proposal Form.
Authorized Signatory: VPGEIA*, School Deans
Academic Cooperation Agreement
To accomplish multiple objectives: student and faculty exchanges and joint research activities, etc.
Initial Point of Contact: Initial consultation with the OGC and the VPGEIA. Note on best practices: OGC advises that it is generally preferable to develop separate agreements for each objective.
If you already have a draft agreement ready for review, submit it using the Partnership Proposal Form.
Review Process: Requires additional review by other entities, depending on scope/type of proposed activities.
Authorized Signatory: VPGEIA*, School Deans
Agreement of Partnership
University strategic international partnerships
Initial Point of Contact: Initial consultation with OGC and the VPGEIA required to ensure institutional support.
Review Process: Typically requires review by university leadership for strategic alignment and by other entities, depending on the scope of the proposed activities.
Authorized Signatory: Chancellor, Provost, VPGEIA
Dual/Joint Degree Program Agreement
Joint/dual degree programs involving international partner
Initial Point of Contact: Contact Angela Wilson. Submit to Provost’s Office for preliminary review.
Review Process: Follow the process outlined by the Provost’s Office.
Authorized Signatory: Provost, VPGEIA
*In some instances, the Provost or the Chancellor would be the appropriate signatory.
** When hosting a visiting researcher at WashU, consult Guidance for Hosting International Visiting Researchers
Partnership proposal form
For use by WashU faculty and administrators only
To propose a new international partnership agreement to be formalized, typically through an MOU, or for an amendment/addendum to an existing agreement, please complete the Partnership Proposal Form.
Fully executed agreements
After an agreement is signed by both partners, please upload it into our database using the Fully Executed Agreement Form. WashU Global collects fully executed international agreements/MOUs to ensure a smoother, more efficient process for new agreements. Every department is required to submit the fully executed international agreements to this central repository.
If your department has any active fully executed international agreements that do not currently appear in our database, please use the Fully Executed Agreement Form to upload them.
Commonly asked questions
Yes, this template is approved for use for ceremonial, non-binding MOUs. Using the template helps expedite the MOU Process.
Depending on the types of partnerships, the review process includes a number of stakeholders: the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs, the Office of General Counsel, School Deans, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Additional entities may need to be consulted prior to an agreement depending on the scope/type of activities.
For International Research Agreements, contact JROC.
Typically, the review process takes 2-4 weeks. To help expedite review, please follow the appropriate guidelines for the different types of partnerships.
Please use the Fully Executed Agreement Form to upload active international agreements/MOUs, signed by both WashU and the partner institution, if they do not yet appear in our new database.
Consult the types of agreements for the appropriate contacts and process for each agreement type.
MOUs/international agreements can be signed be either the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs, Vijay Ramani, or a school dean, provided that the appropriate review/approval process has been followed.
Consult the Omnibus Delegation of Signature Authority, paragraph 12 (International Affairs).