International Partnerships
Stevens Institute of Technology has a history of building long and rich partnerships with institutions and organizations worldwide. The Office of International Programs believes these relationships contribute significantly to the University.
International Partnerships
Traditionally, Stevens Institute of Technology has been building long and rich partnerships with institutions and organizations worldwide. The Office of International Programs believes that these relationships contribute significantly to the University, including teaching, research, and our global outreach. We also believe that students, staff, and faculty can obtain enriching experiences benefiting from these relationships. Therefore, our office seeks and maintains a variety of partners around the globe at different levels, be it department, School, and University.
Existing Partnerships
Stevens has over 90 partnerships with institutions across the world in a wide variety of disciplines. The Office of International Programs is making a concerted effort to diversify our international partnerships, and has recently established several partnerships with institutions across Asia. Some of the most recently established partnerships include: Tsinghua University, China; University of Liverpool, United Kingdom; and the University of Lomé, Togo.
Partnership Types and Description
Stevens Institute of Technology and the Office of International Programs have been encouraging the academic community to initiate new international relationships that can develop into new partnership programs. In order to ensure the conformity of the new partnership and programs with our academic standard, avoid duplication and guarantee the appropriate management and maintenance, all partnership proposals must be analyzed and reviewed by the Director of the Office of International Programs and, if applicable, by the Program Director or Department Chair, the Dean of the School/College proposing the partnership, as well as the Academic Council.
The first stage of establishing any international partnership is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). An MoU is a general statement between institutions typically used in order to establish a broad relationship for cooperation between two institutions or as an initial agreement. All partnerships must start with an MoU regardless of the type of final agreement.
After the MoU has been drafted, revised and signed by both institutions, the parties then establish one of the following agreements:
Agreement for Bilateral Student Exchange | An agreement that facilitates a bilateral exchange between Stevens and its partner university through which students study at the host university for a full semester in exchange and pay tuition and fees at their home institution. |
Agreements for Dual Degree or Coordinated Programs | Dual Degree programs allow students from the partner university to earn two degrees simultaneously or earn one degree from both universities. Types of dual degree agreements include: Graduate Level: "4+1" or "3+2" Coordinated Programs and Undergraduate Level: "2+2" Dual Degree Program. |
Agreement for Direct Enrollment (Contractual Agreement) | An agreement in which the university abroad does not wish to send students to Stevens, but is willing to host Stevens students for a semester. Stevens students pay the fees of the host institution. |
Agreement for Research Cooperation or Collaboration | An agreement for Stevens faculty interested in establishing (a) new contacts with faculty abroad or (b) developing research collaborations with new and existing overseas contacts. With this agreement, it is possible to exchange scholars, faculty members and even students to work strictly in research fields. |
Agreement for Visiting/Exchange of Faculty and Scholars | An agreement in which the incoming/outgoing faculty/scholar can develop other activities beyond research, such as teaching. |
Agreement for Visiting Students | This agreement enables students from institutions that do not have an Agreement for Bilateral Exchange to study at Stevens or a regular fee-paying basis. |
Faculty Members Seeking to Establish Partnerships
Faculty wishing to enter into a student exchange agreement with an international university are encouraged to consider some of the following:
Quality and reputation of the university abroad
The language of instruction at the university in question
Compatibility of courses
The academic calendar
Existing partnerships with other universities in the same country
Faculty interested in establishing a dual degree program must meet with the Vice Provost of Academics, the Director of the Office of International Programs and the Dean of his/her School. After an approval from this meeting, the faculty member leading the project will need to make a formal proposal to the appropriate curriculum committees. All documentation, memorandum, agreements required must be approved by the School, Vice Provost of Academics, General Counsel and the Office of International Programs, before routing to the Provost's office for signature.For more information regarding establishing international partnerships or agreements, contact Susan Rachouh, Director of International Programs, at srachouh@stevens.edu.
Guidelines for Establishing a Partnership
Meet with the Director of the Office of International Programs to discuss the possibility of a new agreement with the institution you have in mind. Email internationalprograms@stevens.edu
With OIP, research current partnership database to identify existing MOUs or agreements with the potential partner university. This is necessary to avoid duplication.
If there is no existing relationship with the potential partner university, complete the digital 'New Partnership Proposal Form." This is required as the Office of International Programs must submit the proposal to the Academic Council for approval.
If the proposal is approved, the OIP will start the agreement negotiation with the international university, completing the 'MoU Template', and if necessary, making the arrangements with the General Counsel's Office for any editing.
If an MoU already exists with the partner university and the faculty is proposing an additional agreement, it is necessary to ensure the MoU is valid and is following the standard template. If the MoU has expired, the OIP will renew it before proceeding.
Once the partnership and MoU is approved, the Director of the OIP, with input from the sponsoring faculty member, will negotiate the other agreement that will flow from the MoU. The OIP will work closely with the General Counsel in all agreements.
International Activity Reports must be completed on an annual basis and submitted to the Office of International Programs.
All renewal agreements must be approved by the Director of International Programs who will liaise with General Counsel as needed prior to the Provost signing.