“Now more than ever it’s vital students gain a global perspective,” La Trobe vice chancellor John Dewar said.

“Creating global connections is vitally important for students, staff and the community”

“This partnership with a UK university which shares La Trobe’s values of inclusiveness, diversity and equity, will be of huge benefit to our students on both sides of the globe, enriching their learning experience and enhancing employability outcomes,” he explained.

Students at the two universities will be able to spend a portion of their study in the UK and Australia, which will enrich their experience and enhance their employability prospects, according to partnership developers.

The universities anticipate 50 students from each university spending a semester abroad as part of their studies initially, and a group will study a proposed dual degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management, according to a spokesperson.

“The partnership also offers dynamic new opportunities for research – recognising the importance of global collaboration to deliver real impact and transformation on the world stage,” Dewar added.

The shared areas of strength the institutions will cooperate together on include public health and social care improvements, physical activity levels and manufacturing productivity.

Sheffield Hallam vice chancellor Chris Husbands said the partnership brings together two universities that share a common vision of the transformative potential of universities.

“Creating global connections is vitally important for our students, staff and the wider communities. It helps us better understand global cultures and provides our students and staff the opportunity to study, work and travel abroad,” he noted.

The universities, which have had an existing student exchange program since 2014, aim to ensure opportunities for international education are open for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and will financial support.

An agreement for bi-annual humanities summer study tours has also been running for a number of years.

Short mobility programs and joint student projects using virtual meetings will aim to benefit students who may be unable to spend long periods abroad, the spokesperson added.

Research will significantly benefit from the international collaborations that will come as a result of this partnership.

The global strategic partnership builds on several years of successful joint working and marks a step change in collaboration for both universities.

“The ability to scrutinise, debate and share experience is essential for academic and scientific accomplishment. Constructively challenging accepted opinions and ideas is central to research development, and international collaboration helps to facilitate this.”