KUIA updates international agreement and contracts process

LAWRENCE — KU International Affairs has updated its international agreements and contracts process to make it easier to navigate, ensure alignment with KU policies and reduce risk to the University of Kansas.

Internationalization is a central pillar of KU’s mission, and international engagement often requires agreements or contracts that establish partnerships with universities, government agencies or other organizations outside the United States. While these collaborative activities present opportunities for connection abroad, international partnerships can also create vulnerabilities.

By following KUIA’s established procedures for developing formal partnerships, KU units ensure that their international agreements and contracts align with KU policies, encourage careful stewardship of university resources and mitigate risk.

To begin the international agreement or contract process, visit the KUIA website for guidance on what to consider before forming an international partnership and the steps to take to get started.

Changes to the process for Agreements of Cooperation, which are general statements of mutual interest that explore opportunities for collaboration and are explicitly nonbinding, include:

• Evidence of support from your unit for the agreement.
• Submission of an AOC proposal form.

Changes to the process for International Academic Services Agreements and Contracts, which commit KU resources or bind KU to specific terms, include:

• A 30-minute initial consultation with a staff member from International Affairs.
• The formation of a project-specific working group to assist in crafting a proposal and agreement draft.
• Review by KU’s Executive Partnership Review Committee, which will make a recommendation to the provost and senior internationalization officer.

All sponsored research projects will continue to route through the Center for Research.

KU has more than 190 partnership agreements that support the university’s mission-driven activities around the globe. The updated process will allow for greater collaboration and cohesion in strategically relevant regions of the world.