Criteria for International Partnerships

When submitting your proposal form for a new international partnership, WMU will prioritize international partnerships that meet the following principles:

  1. Alignment with WMU vision and goals
  2. Quality and integrity of potential partner
  3. Sustainability 
  4. Fit with range of WMU's existing partnerships 
  5. Academic Requirements (particularly for dual-degree or exchange agreements)
  6. Additional criteria (exchange only)
 

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

Academic requirements (particularly for dual-degree or exchange agreements)

  • 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

additional criteria (Exchange only)

  • Two department chairs, and at least one dean must sign off on the partnership
  • It is our preference that two colleges support the partnership; this would make it a priority proposal
  • The proposal should demonstrate academic merit and institutional compatibility for a long-term relationship. Show evidence that this particular partnership would enhance or expand opportunities for faculty and/or students
  • If the potential partner is located in a region or country where we already have exchange partners, it should provide new or different opportunities