Types of agreements
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) A general Memorandum of Understanding is used to initiate institutional collaboration and is an expression of “goodwill” between UFV and the partner institution. It establishes expectations of a relationship between the institutions and identifies possible areas of cooperation, such as faculty and student exchanges, articulation/transfer agreements, and joint conferences or research. The MOU does not commit either institution, but highlights potential areas of cooperation that can be developed in supplementary agreements.
With some exceptions, supplementary agreements fall into the following categories:
Student Exchange Agreements
A Student Exchange Agreement supports the reciprocal exchange of students between UFV and an exchange partner institution. This agreement allows participating students to pay tuition fees to their home institutions for courses taken while on exchange. Faculty members can increase student participation by encouraging them to take advantage of study abroad partnerships and by collaborating with faculty in partner institutions, which can also lead to other mutually beneficial activities.
Faculty Exchange AgreementsA Faculty Exchange Agreement allows instructors from partner institutions to visit UFV for a short period of time, sometimes up to a year. Actual “exchanges” of faculty, where instructors “trade places” and teaching assignments, are rare. However, visits that include some teaching, research, and professional development enrich UFV and our partner institutions. Contact UFV International for information on existing exchange agreements and opportunities for faculty (and staff) to go abroad. Support for UFV faculty members to engage in exchange activities could come from the
Professional Development Fund, the
Internationalization Fund, or by means of
other external funding sources. For information on research opportunities and protocol, contact
Research and Graduate Studies.
Articulation/Transfer Agreements
Articulation Agreements match up our curriculum with that of the partner’s on a course-by-course basis. They describe the terms and conditions by which students will receive transfer credits and they specify an approved list of prerequisite courses from the partner institution. Articulation agreements facilitate both incoming and outgoing students. UFV International frequently engages faculty to participate in the development of articulation agreements and in student recruitment activities abroad.
High School Agreements As part of our recruitment strategy for international students, UFV International has entered into a number of agreements with high schools abroad. For example, the Dalian Maple Leaf School in China teaches the British Columbia “Dogwood” curriculum program in the English language. Other agreements involve private high schools where students’ educational goals include studying abroad for their post-secondary education. These agreements often offer high school students early conditional admission while regular visits by UFV recruiters, sometimes accompanied by faculty members, keep students and parents informed about UFV’s programs and admissions policies.
Program Service Provider Agreement (Contract Training) A Program Service Provider Agreement describes the terms and conditions by which UFV will provide a specialized program or revenue-generating service for a stated purpose. These projects often involve assisting a partner institution in developing a program/curriculum, or performing other services such as English language testing. Such agreements offer our academic departments and faculty members the opportunity to undertake assignments abroad, as well as facilitating a cross-cultural learning experience for the participants involved.
Joint Project/Funding Proposal SubmissionsUFV may enter into a joint project or proposal submission with a partner institution(s) such as the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s (HRSDC) Program for North American Mobility in Higher Education, a development assistance project administered by AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada), as well as other international funding agencies.
