Partnership Principles
What do we mean by partnership?
The University collaborates with a wide range of partners across the world in education, knowledge exchange and research, some of which provide funding for our academic work. The Partnership Principles set out the universal guiding principles for all our partnerships, in this context defined as: ‘a relationship with a third party, involving a formal contractual arrangement which could include the provision of funding or a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’.
Strategy 2030
The University’s Strategy states:
Our purpose: to use the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future.
Our vision: to lead meaningful action against the climate emergency and ecological crisis; to make key breakthroughs to transform human health and wellbeing; and to lead the progress towards creating a fair, socially just and inclusive society.
Our institutional values: discovery, respect, excellence, inclusion, and community.
Hereafter, the terms purpose, vision and institutional values are in accordance with these definitions.
Guiding principles for our partnerships:
- We will seek and prioritise partnership activities that align with our purpose and vision and our institutional values, and with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, maximising our positive impact on the world. We will make prospective partners aware of these commitments.
- We will seek reciprocal, mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance our research, teaching and knowledge exchange, supporting new discovery and academic excellence. Through our partnerships, we seek to maximise the opportunities for our education and research excellence to create beneficial impact and value in the world - locally, nationally and globally. We call this approach 'Partnerships for Progress'.
- While we recognise that partners may have goals that differ from ours, we will only seek to enter into partnership activity where we believe that the potential outcomes will support our purpose and vision.
- We will not collaborate with partners whose actions contravene international laws or sanctions.
- We will seek to uphold and enhance our reputation as an academic institution. We will work in alignment with the University’s strategies, and with the University’s Ethics and Environment and Climate Emergency Policies.
- The University will use a Risk Matrix Framework for any proposed partnership to determine the governance process that will be applied in its development, using a red, amber, yellow, green (RAYG) scale.
- In alignment with our Risk Matrix Framework, we will choose, regularly monitor, review and end partnerships through transparent and trusted processes that include due diligence, risk management, periodic review, and exit strategies. Our processes will be responsive and agile, yet allow appropriate space for reflection, consideration and accountability. We will be transparent about who is responsible for partnership decisions and governance structures. We will also be transparent both inside and outside the University about the partnerships we form and why we hold them, within the boundaries of confidentiality and intellectual property considerations. We will acknowledge the deep and complex history of partner organisations and be clear about how we are working together to deliver new knowledge, opportunities, and impact.
- We recognise and respect that across our University communities (staff, students and alumni), and the communities in which we are based, there will be many interpretations of how we should act. We will welcome and encourage ongoing constructive and critical debate about our partnerships through the University’s governance processes. We will treat each other with respect when our views differ, and we acknowledge that not all members of our communities will agree with all our partnership decisions, but we will ensure that these are based on a clear and robust rationale and accountability. We will respect those engaged in such partnership work.
- We will always consider the principles of academic freedom, and of diversity, equity, inclusion, and dignity for all. We accept that diverse cultures across the world may have different values to our own. We will support our staff and students in engaging with partners safely and in line with these principles, and we will not require any individual student or member of staff to engage where their safety or these principles would be compromised. An individual’s ethical decision not to engage should not impact on their career.
- The University has a duty of care to all its students and staff. We will encourage awareness of the opportunities and risks associated with external engagement.
The Principles apply to new partnerships and the renewal of existing partnerships from the date of publication.