Information

Procedures for Agreements with Higher Educational Institutes including Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Introduction

DCU has many forms of relationships with different types of organisations, for a variety of reasons that may include:

The recruitment of students
The joint development of courses
Joint research proposals
To create sustainable strategic alliances

Types of Arrangement

In general, there are three broad levels of cooperation with other Higher Education Institutions which may be supported and formalised through:

Letters of Cooperation or Agreement
Memorandum of Understanding
Strategic Alliances

For further information on current and previous agreements with other institutions, please check the Institutional Linkages Database.

Erasmus Agreements

In addition, collaborative EU level arrangements such as the Erasmus programme are coordinated through the International Office: (http://www.dcu.ie/international/index.shtml).

Differences Between Levels of Agreement

Letters of Cooperation

There are many Letters of Cooperation or Letters of Agreement between DCU Schools/Faculties and those in other institutions. These can be defined as:

“A loose agreement between parties on a specific area or narrow set of areas that do not constitute a legally binding document but instead can recognize that cooperating would be of mutual benefit and would serve as an indication of continued interest in joint projects.”

These Letters of Cooperation should be agreed by the rules set within those Schools/Faculties. Letters of Cooperation are often signed in advance of an M.O.U. as a means of agreement on general cooperation.

Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an overall facilitating document linking Dublin City University or one of its designated units with another institution(s). An MOU is between the University and the other body on behalf of a Unit, School, Faculty or Centre. Recognizing that MOUs are intended to facilitate future cooperation, it is important to address potential obstacles at the time the MOU is being developed. A “Memorandum of Understanding” or MOU can be defined as:

“A legal document describing an agreement between parties….it expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action, but which can have a direct effect on the university including that of a legal commitment. It is a more formal alternative to other mechanisms such as a “Letter of Consent” or “Letter of Cooperation”, many of which are interchangeable terms.”

Such an agreement can have several potential effects on the University, including:

Legal
Financial
Reputational
Admissions arrangements

Therefore in the development of any MOU, these factors should be given particular attention and the Due Diligence process must be carried out.

A suggested template for an MOU is available here.

Due Diligence for an MOU

Due Diligence is the process by which the organisation that DCU is proposing to work with is deemed to be a valid, suitable and timely partner. Where an organisation approaches DCU with the intention of presenting joint programmes, a member of DCU staff will take responsibility for liaising with the institution, and will act as the ‘proposer’ for the partner, and must supply information with any MOU proposal. The following issues should be covered clearly in the MOU process:

Highlight the institutional background of the partner(s) e.g. date established, location of main branch (and other branches, if relevant), profit or non-profit, public or private, accreditation body, disciplines, level of qualifications offered, ranking (if appropriate), other partners (if known), recognition by NARIC and other relevant recognition by a professional or statutory accrediting agency.
Identify the type of linkage being proposed, objectives, resource implications, and fit with DCU strategic objectives.
Outline the synergy between the proposed agreement and the Faculty/School/Centre/Unit’s mandate and direction.

If you are planning on developing a Memorandum of Understanding with another institution please familiarise yourself with the M.O.U. Due Diligence policy: Memorandum_of_Understanding_Due_Diligence_Procedures (PDF)

Strategic Alliances

The most in-depth agreement with another Higher Education Institution is the `Strategic Alliance'. Strategic alliances can be defined as:

“A mutually beneficial long-term formal relationship formed between two or more parties to pursue a set of agreed upon goals or to meet a critical organisational need while remaining independent organizations. It is a synergistic arrangement whereby two or more organisations agree to cooperate in the carrying out of a business activity where each brings different strengths and capabilities to the arrangement.”

One of the explicit objectives in the 2006-2008 DCU Strategic plan `Leadership through Foresight' is the development of strategic alliances:

"DCU will secure a small number of strategic alliances with national and international partners."

Strategic alliances are the highest value relationships DCU can have with other institutions. They usually involve agreed developments in a number of areas. Strategic alliance partners must have a `strategic fit' with the university. Having commitment and buy-in from the senior management of the partner institution is also vital. International partnerships are solely based around a broad strategic fit with university strategy in potentially the following areas: