Global Partnerships

In an increasingly interconnected world, today’s most pressing health challenges cannot be solved alone. MUSC recognizes and values that cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary partnerships are more critical than ever, and partners with institutions across the globe to expand and advance research, teaching, exchange, and innovation.

Faculty are often at the forefront of these relationship-building efforts and in some instances are asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) or other kinds of agreements to establish such collaborations.

Launching a relationship with an international partner can be an involved process. The Center for Global Health manages MUSC’s international partnership agreements, providing guidance and assistance to facilitate the process.

If you are considering an agreement between an international entity and your department or college, find out more about institutional partnerships, and follow the steps outlined in Establishing an Agreement.

Types of Agreements

All of the international agreements outlined in this guide must follow the approval process, which includes involving the Center for Global Health, Department Chair, Dean, and Provost.

Opportunities for affiliation with foreign universities or institutions typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) postdoctoral research and clinical residents training, (2) faculty exchange, (3) student exchange, (4) research collaboration, (5) degree program, (6) affiliated training site, or (7) executive education, which involves conducting brief educational programs overseas for foreign students or in the U.S. for foreign groups.

Primary Agreement
A new affiliation between MUSC and an international institution in almost all cases would begin by entering into a general agreement that confirms the intention of the cooperating institutions to develop collaborative activities related to research and teaching, but which does not make specific commitments of University resources to specific activities. This agreement, often referred to as an MOU or Agreement of Cooperation, lists areas of possible joint activities without creating financial obligations or committing resources and should be of a limited duration of three (3) to five (5) years. The purpose is to acknowledge a formal, ongoing and strategic relationship between institutions that is intended to be long-term.

Sub-Agreement or Implementation Plan
When a relationship moves to a more formal level of interaction, the two institutions should enter into a more detailed agreement. A Sub-Agreement or Implementation Plan makes specific program arrangements for a defined period, providing for the exchange of faculty, staff, and/or students between the institutions and specifying the research, teaching, collaborative engagement, or related activities that will be undertaken. A Sub-Agreement or Implementation Plan will include the numbers of persons involved, the duration of the participants’ visits, and will identify the amount and source of budgetary commitments to support the exchange. This agreement clarifies the nature of the work, the expectations and obligations of the parties, ownership of the work product, and allocation of costs and liabilities. The Sub-Agreement or Implementation Plan becomes an addendum to the existing Primary Agreement.

Signatory Authority

International agreements must be reviewed by the Center for Global Health and approved and signed by the University Provost or President. Since international agreements are not between individual faculty members, but between institutions, only a small, designated number of individuals at the University have authority to sign agreements on behalf of the University. Agreements should not be signed on behalf of MUSC outside of the U.S. unless advised otherwise by the Office of General Counsel, as signing agreements in another country may constitute doing business in that country.
eement between an international entity and your department or college, find out more about institutional partnerships, and follow the steps outlined in Establishing an Agreement.