Collaboration between higher education institutions is an important part of internationalisation. Institutions are successfully using collaborative models to increase both inbound and outbound student mobility, staff mobility and international research capacity.

The Higher Education Partnership Forum enables participants from across the globe to connect with partners and learn about models of collaboration.

The Higher Education Partnership Forum provides a formal meeting platform for international higher education institutions (HEIs) seeking potential partners around the world. Using a sophisticated online scheduling system, participants can filter and vet each other’s profiles, and arrange meetings prior to the event. This ensures that partnerships are explored in a professional and effective manner.

The seminar programme has been designed to inform and inspire participants, showcasing various models and best practices for HE partnerships.

In 2017, 100 participants from 72 organisations attended the Forum. This included representatives from 55 accredited higher education institutions in 19 countries.

In 2018, the HEPF will take place in Geneva directly after the ICEF Higher Education Workshop and prior to the EAIE Conference.

Below are some examples of the types of collaborations that participants are able to develop during the event:

International dual/double degree programmes: degrees collaboratively offered by two higher education institutions located in different countries. Students receive degree certificates issued from both universities.

International joint degree programmes: programmes collaboratively offered by two (or more) higher education institutions located in different countries. Students study at two or more institutions and gain one degree signed by all participating institutions.

Articulation agreements: allows undergraduate students who have completed a specified curriculum at a partner institution to apply to a university and enrol with advanced standing into a specific programme.

Course-to-Course transfers/contracts: pre-arranged recognition of the equivalency of specific courses at one institution to the corresponding course at a partner university. Includes private qualification providers.

Third-Party contracts: a university contracts with a third-party for delivery of courses. In this case the third party would be an organisation that is either not an institution of higher learning (private provider), or is an institution that is outside the home country.

Sequential degrees: students earn a specified degree at an institution and completes a second, related programme at a partner university.

Research collaboration: Collaborative research involving international partners.

Study abroad: students spend six months or a year of their degree at an overseas university and receive credits towards their degree. Tuition fees are charged by the receiving university for study abroad.

Exchange: students spend six months or a year of their degree at an overseas university and receive credits towards their degree. Exchange does not involve tuition fees as it involves students from both institutions and is one for one.

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