Göttingen International

Cooperating with and without Formal Agreements

The following content is intended to inform University members about the contractual framework for international cooperation purposes and to show which department needs to be consulted for the various forms of cooperation.

There are numerous ways for international cooperation at the University of Göttingen, such as cooperation in a legal framework and collaboration without a contractual basis in written form. Researchers and teaching staff are generally free to choose their cooperation partners and the form of collaboration. However, we recommend formalizing the collaboration in writing in order to define the framework conditions for both sides, especially if the collaboration is long-term.

    In both formal and informal collaborations, members of the University of Göttingen are obliged to inform themselves about their duties, responsibilities and personal accountability as well as the potential risks and risk management in order to protect themselves, their students and staff, research results and the reputation of the University of Göttingen.

    Non-Formal Cooperation: without a Formal Agreement

    Not every collaboration needs to be formalized. A written framework defined by a memorandum of understanding or an agreement for collaborations might be unneccesary if, for instance, no exchanges take place, no data or research results are shared, and no relevant regulations (e.g. export control/sanctions law, data protection law, Nagoya compliance, etc.) need to be observed.

    Formal Cooperation: with an Agreement

    The following is a brief overview of the types of international partnership and cooperation agreements there are (e.g., memoranda of understanding, cooperation agreements, student exchange agreements), and how they are developed.

    Note: Before contacting any of the departments listed below, please seek consent for your project from your dean’s office and your relevant department first.

    In the university administration, there are different points of contact depending on the cooperation format you are seeking:

Note: Before contacting Göttingen International, please seek consent for your project from your dean’s office and your relevant department first.

Upon approval from the dean's office and department, please contact the International Relations Team of Göttingen International.

Types of Partnership Agreement

Depending on the purpose of the cooperation, there are various types of documents that can be considered:

  • Letter of Intent (LoI)

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

  • Student-Exchange Agreements (SEA)

  • Exchange Agreements for Researchers and Staff

Partnership agreements can be concluded at university, faculty or institute level.

    Agreement at central level: With the approval of the Presidential Board, agreements can be concluded at central level if the student exchange is to include at least three faculties, but the partnership is not directly assigned to an institute or faculty.

    Agreement at faculty or institute level: The conclusion of an agreement at faculty or institute level is recommended if only one faculty or institute is interested in cooperating with the international partner or a faculty or institute of the international partner.

    For each cooperation agreement, both parties shall nominate a person to be appointed as a representative for the agreed cooperation. The partnership officer determines the prioritization of the partnership in consultation with colleagues involved in the exchange and allocates any available funds (if applicable).

    Procedure

    The International Relations Team at Göttingen International provides templates that have been legally checked and, if the partner agrees, can be used immediately.

    If documents are used that do not correspond to Göttingen University templates, these must undergo a legal review and, if necessary, be negotiated with the partner university. The International Relations Teams coordinates this process and obtains the necessary signatures once the negotiations have been successfully concluded.

    A digital contract document is sufficient for many partner universities. If paper versions are also to be created, the International Relations Team will advise on the necessary number of copies.

    Necessary Signatures

    The University of Göttingen is always the partner in an agreement with another university. Each agreement must therefore be signed by a member of the University management, usually the President. Please plan enough time to obtain all signatures in consultation with the International Relations Team.

    Agreement at university level is signed (by circulation procedure electronically by e-mail) by

    • the President, co-signature by Vice President(s) f necessary

    • co-signature of the partnership officer

    Agreement at faculty level is signed (by circulation procedure electronically by e-mail) by

    • the President, co-signature by Vice President(s) if necessary

    • co-signature of the Dean (of each participating faculty)

    • co-signature of the partnership officer

    Agreement at department level is signed (in circulation procedure electronically by e-mail) by

    • the President, co-signature by Vice President(s) if necessary

    • co-signature of the Dean (of each participating faculty)

    • co-signature of the director of the department or institute

    • co-signature of the partnership officer

    Duration from drafting the agreement to signing

    If the University of Göttingen templates are used, it is possible to conclude a letter of intent, a MoU or agreement within a few days, provided the partner institutions agree to the template and the Dean's Office signs at short notice (the latter is usually only possible if advance notice of the required signature has been given).

    If the University of Göttingen's templates are not used or are changed in such a way that a legal review becomes necessary, experience has shown that the preparation process takes several months. The duration of the preparation process also depends on how much coordination and negotiation effort is required with the partner university in order to develop a joint document.

    We urgently ask you to take this into account when planning.


Questions can be addressed to: international@uni-goettingen.de