International relationships > Types of international agreements

Types of International Agreements

There are three types of agreements generally used in developing international partnerships:

• Letter of Intent
• Memorandum of Understading
• Addendum

 

Please note that this is only a guideline. The contents of each agreement is determined on case by case basis by the partners involved. Partner institutions' templates can be used; a review and due diligence process would still need to be undertaken.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

In the agreement process, the Letters of Intent (LOI):

• express an interest in establishing an academic linkage with another organization to promote academic collaboration
• are often ‘first-step’ agreements that open the door to discussing possible future collaborations
• formalize the process but are quite general in nature
• convey a desire on the part of all parties to develop joint programming
• can be university wide or college specific

Download LOI template.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs):

• can also be referred to as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by some institutions
• outline and identify initial areas of cooperation (academic mobility, training or service contract, etc)
• do not necessarily include in-depth arrangements**
• are more detailed than LOIs and show a more developed sense of the anticipated activity between the parties involved
• can be university wide or specific to a college

  ** = the in-depth arrangements may be outlined in an Addendum.

Download MOU template.

Addendum

• outlines specific details about projects, student and faculty exchange
• developed after the actual agreement
• follows same review process as theother linkage agreements

Internal Due Diligence

• ensures the proper checks have been done before an agreement is taken to the relevant signing authority,
• is completed and signed by all relevant parties (for example, deans of the colleges involved, the Student Exchange Manager and/or the International Research Manager and/or the Director of the International Office)

 

Research Agreements

The agreements related to research are created in consultation with the International Research Office. Please see the International Research office website for details.

 

Student Exchange Agreements

Student exchange agreements or addendums are negotiated in coordination with the International Student and Study Abroad Centre.  Please contact them for more information.