We provide guidance and support to the WashU community when they seek to establish new international partnerships.

The resources on these pages define international agreement types, provide direction for initiating and renewing agreements, offer best practices, and answer frequently asked questions.

WashU often formalizes partnerships through various types of agreements, depending on the objective.

Planning an international agreement?

For any international agreement, new or continuing, please reach out to WashU Global as you explore this content.

Contact WashU Global

Types of agreements

To begin the process of formalizing a partnership, start by reviewing the guidance and follow the steps outlined for each agreement type.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Often, partnerships are first formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The parties may later formalize their partnership further with detailed legal agreements about specific activities.

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 not required, international partners may request one to initiate a partnership. WashU is happy to engage these requests.

For ceremonial, non-binding MOUs, follow the review process.

Agreements with formal and binding commitments (academic, financial, other)

Unlike an MOU, a legal agreement is a binding contract that details the terms and conditions of specific forms of partnership and requires review by a variety of stakeholders at WashU. 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.
International research subawards and agreements

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

All international agreement types outlined below require review by the Senior 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 Jason Crowe. Submit to Provost’s Office for preliminary review.

Review Process: Follow the process outlined by the Provost’s Office. Review Templates for International Agreements for proposals for New Credentials and Modifications.

Authorized Signatory: Provost, VPGEIA

*In some instances, the Provost or the Chancellor is 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. You can access our database for fully executed international agreements/MOUs by clicking the Search Database button.

Commonly asked questions

Is there an approved template for an international MOU?

Yes, this template is approved for use for ceremonial, non-binding MOUs. Using the template helps expedite the MOU Process.

Who at WashU needs to be consulted prior to signing an international agreement?

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.

Who is the appropriate contact for questions about research-related international agreements such as subawards or data transfer agreements?

For International Research Agreements, contact JROC.

How long does the internal review process typically take for new international exchange agreements/MOUs or for renewals?

Typically, the review process takes 2-4 weeks. To help expedite review, please follow the appropriate guidelines for the different types of partnerships.

What should I do with active international agreements/MOUs from prior years that are missing from the database?

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.

If a legal agreement requires additional review by other entities on campus, who can direct me to the appropriate contacts?

Consult the types of agreements for the appropriate contacts and process for each agreement type.

Who is authorized to sign MOUs/international agreements?

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.

Who has signature authority for other categories of legal agreements?

Consult the Omnibus Delegation of Signature Authority, paragraph 12 (International Affairs).