Criteria for International Partnerships

Explore the standards and goals that guide WMU's selection of international partners.

Alignment with WMU vision and goals  

  • Strength of alignment with WMU/HIGE’s goals, and specific college/department goals
  • Compatibility of WMU with potential partner: similar areas of excellence (building synergy), complementary areas of excellence (filling gaps)
  • Clear learning, academic, and/or research objectives to be achieved through the potential partnership

Quality and integrity of potential partner  

  • Ranking and accreditation of the international institution

Sustainability  

  • Fiscal resources available to engage in this international partnership
  • Strength of interest and recruitment methods to support levels of participation
  • Evaluation mechanisms to determine the success of the partnership
  • Faculty and programs already have connections with potential partner
  • Partnership will be of mutual benefit to both institutions
  • Partnership would fit a range of constituencies at WMU

Fit with range of WMU’s existing partnerships  

  • Build on areas of strength
  • Fill in identified gaps (location, new or different opportunities)

Academic requirements 

  • Strength of pairing between existing WMU undergraduate or master degrees and those of the international institution 
  • Strength of pairing between existing WMU academic requirements and those of the international institution