Kent Staff - Internationalise your work life

The University enters into partnerships that are conducive to meeting its strategic objectives and the fulfilment of its mission, particularly in the areas of widening participation and internationalisation. Partnerships, which allow for the provision of a higher education experience for a wide diversity of students, present opportunities for the University to serve as an intellectual and cultural focus for the region, for supporting national and regional economic success, and for building on existing close ties within Europe and in the wider international arena.    

Policy requirements

In order to ensure that international partnerships and collaborations are appropriately strategic, high quality, and enhance the reputation of the University, internal policy requires all Kent faculty and staff to adhere to a series of internal approval processes and guidelines prior to any binding discussions or negotiations with an external partner. 

This applies to both proposed new arrangements and the monitoring and renewal of existing arrangements.  

International Partnerships is responsible for undertaking the pre-collaborative checks on all proposed new international partnerships and the renewal of arrangements, with the oversight of the Quality Assurance and Compliance Office.

Non-collaborative provision

International Partnerships is responsible for the monitoring of the following types of non-collaborative international agreements   ( i.e. those that do not entail a University award):

• Non-Erasmus European and International Exchange
• Incoming only Study Abroad Agreements
• Erasmus+ Inter-institutional Agreements
• Progression Agreements not involving advanced standing
• Formal Overseas Staff Exchange Agreements (Non-Erasmus)
• Memoranda of Understanding.

Collaborative provision

The Quality Assurance and Compliance Office oversees international agreements that lead to a University award or to specific credit towards a University award (as follows):

• Dual/joint awards  
• Articulation arrangements 
• Course delivery support partner  
• Standalone module delivery provider  
• Course delivery provider  
• Co-supervision of research degrees  
• Joint research awards.  

Full policies and procedures relating to collaborative provision approval can be accessed on the Quality Assurance and Compliance Office pages.

Postgraduate collaborative provision

Kent Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) is responsible for the strategy and policy relating to international postgraduate collaboration provision. The GRC works closely with International Partnerships and the Quality Assurance and Compliance Office in this area. 

The GRC oversees the agreement of individual student contracts for the co-supervision of PhDs with international partners.

Quick-Reference Guide

Guidance for Kent staff who wish to set up an international partnership.

Download our Quick-Reference Guide .pdf