{"id":149,"date":"2017-05-02T10:32:45","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T17:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/gi-dev\/?page_id=149"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:07:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:07:29","slug":"international-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/international-partnerships\/","title":{"rendered":"International Strategic Partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Like many colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, Bellevue College is rethinking how we engage globally. We are clarifying our international goals, exploring new ways to collaborate with institutions abroad, and working to align these efforts with our core mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, Bellevue College has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various international institutions. These relationships remain important. Moving forward, a select group of these institutions will be identified as <strong>Strategic Partners<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">What is a Strategic Partnership?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic Partnerships are long-term, campus-wide collaborations with institutions in key global regions. These partnerships involve multiple Bellevue College departments and are designed to support sustainable, meaningful engagement in international learning, teaching, and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic Partners are chosen based on shared goals and the potential to enhance global opportunities for our students, faculty, and community. These collaborations bring together expertise from across Bellevue College to build stronger, more impactful international relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">What We Look for in a Strategic Partner:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shared Focus and Strengths<\/strong><br>Institutions with similar academic profiles and complementary strengths in teaching or research.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Past or Existing Connections<\/strong><br>A history of collaboration, even if informal or occasional, is a good foundation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mutual Commitment<\/strong><br>Both institutions show strong interest and are willing to invest time, staff, and resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aligned Administrative Support<\/strong><br>Effective international offices that are proactive and collaborative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Faculty Engagement<\/strong><br>Strong faculty interest is essential. Early activities may include joint seminars, faculty visits, or shared projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practical Considerations<\/strong><br>Aligned academic calendars, language compatibility, time zones, cost of living, and safety factors all help determine feasibility for exchange and joint programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">Next Steps as a Strategic Partner:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Click to expand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapsibles accordion\" id=\"accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_ca4f7519-7127-4e07-bd24-012c3dce47b3\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_ca4f7519-7127-4e07-bd24-012c3dce47b3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_ca4f7519-7127-4e07-bd24-012c3dce47b3\">Goals of Strategic Partnerships<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_ca4f7519-7127-4e07-bd24-012c3dce47b3\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_ca4f7519-7127-4e07-bd24-012c3dce47b3\" data-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Student learning, as global citizens and as future members of a global workforce;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curriculum building and course enhancement;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing international learning experiences even for students who do not study abroad and even in disciplines that have historically had few such opportunities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing the international capacity of faculty and staff;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advancing research by connecting institutions and scholars with those who have similar strengths and interests;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connecting to key parts of the world;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supporting and enhancing the international ties and interests of the surrounding community;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tackling pressing global issues of health, education, economic development, environment, energy, conflict, inequality, human rights, and social justice;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting the overall mission of the institution, giving it distinctive qualities, and enhancing its international positioning and reputation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generating revenue through tuition and grants;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>General institutional capacity building;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_818b510a-60e3-4c94-a164-1037d87103ff\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_818b510a-60e3-4c94-a164-1037d87103ff\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_818b510a-60e3-4c94-a164-1037d87103ff\">Impact of Strategic Partnerships<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_818b510a-60e3-4c94-a164-1037d87103ff\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_818b510a-60e3-4c94-a164-1037d87103ff\" data-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p><strong>Breadth of impact.<\/strong>&nbsp;Strategic international partnerships will be broadly impactful on two fronts. First, they will cross discipline, division, and department boundaries to involve faculty and students at all levels, and from throughout the institution. Ideally, they will foster interdisciplinary in learning. Second, they will involve activities directly related to all of the institution\u2019s core missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Depth of impact.<\/strong>&nbsp;Strategic international partnerships will provide opportunities to move from simple to complex interactions between institutions. Educational activities will run the gamut from simple reciprocal study abroad arrangements and short-term study abroad programming to jointly taught courses, co-development of new curricula, and joint or dual degree programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strong faculty support.<\/strong>&nbsp;While some central coordination of activities in a strategic international partnership is necessary and desirable, there must be significant and ongoing interest among faculty across the campus if any meaningful collaboration is to develop. We will identify key individual faculty to spearhead the initial efforts and champion the partnership among their colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Demonstrable mutual benefit.<\/strong>&nbsp;Strategic international partnerships will offer ongoing mutual benefits to both institutions. They will add value to both institutions involved by increasing their capacity to provide unique educational opportunities for our students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sustainability.<\/strong>&nbsp;Successful strategic international partnerships will evolve over time. Initial investments will come in the form of seed funding to facilitate initial interactions between faculty and international education administrators at the partner institutions. This central financial support will scale down as the institutional relationships mature.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_aa07e71b-8c06-4cf9-b519-53ec01099813\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_aa07e71b-8c06-4cf9-b519-53ec01099813\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_aa07e71b-8c06-4cf9-b519-53ec01099813\">Development &amp; Approval of Strategic Partnerships<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_aa07e71b-8c06-4cf9-b519-53ec01099813\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_aa07e71b-8c06-4cf9-b519-53ec01099813\" data-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>Bellevue College is committed to working with colleges, universities, organizations and agencies around the world on initiatives of mutual benefit. When potential collaborations involve commitment of resources or exchange of faculty, staff and students a general memorandum of understanding (MOU) is developed and signed to acknowledge the partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For an institution to be named a Strategic Partner, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/212\/2017\/07\/InternationalPartnershipsAssessmentTool.pdf\">Strategic Partnership Assessment Tool [PDF]<\/a>\u00a0must be completed and approved by the Office of Global Initiatives, which will manage and assist with the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic Partnerships should only be proposed after significant conversation and interaction with partner institution(s), including, whenever possible, visits by BC faculty, administrators and staff to these institutions, accompanied by reciprocal visit from the institution to BC. A standard general MOU with the institution may well be signed during these initial interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the partnership advances and specific arrangements are made for dual degree programs, student and faculty exchanges, joint research, etc., the General Agreements will be supplemented by specific agreements which detail partnership activities, responsible parties and resources available to sustain the partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Office of Global Initiatives reviews each proposed agreement and makes a recommendation to the higher Administrators regarding the completeness of the agreement and any issues generated by the partnership agreement. The president signs each new agreement and renewal. Depending on the type of agreement, the relevant VP(s), Dean(s), legal counsel, or other staff may also need to review and approve of the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals who are not currently employed by BC may not initiate or be designated as the primary contact for an MOU or other form of international agreements. An agreement may be initiated by a Division, Department, or other Academic Unit by submitting a brief proposal to the Office of Global Initiatives that outlines the proposed areas for cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Office of Global Initiatives will draft the initial MOU based on the proposal. Depending on the type of agreement, the relevant Dean(s), legal counsel, and\/or other academic committees may also need to review the MOU. The President will make the final decision regarding the MOU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once an MOU draft has been reviewed and approved by all relevant parties, at least two original, hard-copy versions of the document will be routed for signatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The office of Global Initiatives maintains a database of all formal partnerships and is responsible for sending a reminder to the designated contact for each international agreement or MOU before it is due to expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional agreements may be appended to the original MOU and, depending on their nature, the President and other parties may be required to sign these addenda.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_95200a2c-46df-4fb2-a94b-a213067fd26d\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_95200a2c-46df-4fb2-a94b-a213067fd26d\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_95200a2c-46df-4fb2-a94b-a213067fd26d\">Principal Types of International Agreements<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_95200a2c-46df-4fb2-a94b-a213067fd26d\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_95200a2c-46df-4fb2-a94b-a213067fd26d\" data-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_8bf1ecf6-87bf-4131-b349-a2e064c433f8\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>General MOU Agreement<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 A General Agreement states the intention of the institutions to explore the potential for collaborative activities. It does not include specific activities and must be implemented through addenda or separate specific agreements that are required to be approved by the authorized officials. A General Agreement is used to establish the relationship when both institutions believe that a formal statement of interest would be an appropriate step. The General Agreement establishes a substantial framework for exploring collaboration when it seems clear that there may be multiple possibilities for collaboration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agreement for Reciprocal Student Exchanges (RSE)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 This agreement provides for the equal exchange of students between BC and an institution abroad. RSE participants are registered at their home institution, therefore there are no costs associated with tuition. However, RSE activities may have financial, accreditation and immigration implications that will require a thorough evaluation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Short Term Study Abroad Agreement<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 This agreement details the activities associated with a Study Abroad Program at a particular site. It includes the specific conditions and expectations from both parties associated with the implementation of the program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agreement for Research, Technical, or Scientific Cooperation<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 This document structures the commitments, roles and responsibilities, as well as procedures to implement an exchange of faculty, staff, and administrators between BC and an overseas institution. The financial and logistical implications of the exchange must be discussed and agreed before the final agreement is submitted for signature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dual Degree Agreements<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 This document structures the program through which students receive two existing degrees, one from each partner institution. Each institution is primarily responsible for its own degree; however, an articulation of courses as well as the procedures to ensure program quality and coordination is required. This agreement allows for the transfer of credit according to existing policies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like many colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, Bellevue College is rethinking how we engage globally. We are clarifying our international goals, exploring new ways to collaborate with institutions abroad, and working to align these efforts with our core mission. Over the years, Bellevue College has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/international-partnerships\/\">...more about International Strategic Partnerships<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-nav-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-149","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3214,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/149\/revisions\/3214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/globalinitiatives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}