In order to facilitate the internationalization of The Ohio State University and to enhance the instruction, scholarship, research and outreach for our faculty and students, Ohio State strongly encourages the establishment of meaningful relationships between it and/or its several academic units and foreign institutions. Currently, Ohio State has more than 200 active agreements with foreign universities. To further this objective, it is often appropriate to have memoranda of understanding, memoranda of agreement or letters of intent (hereafter collectively referred to as MOAs) linking Ohio State with these foreign institutions in order to establish the basis for cooperation and collaboration.

The Office of International Affairs is charged with the responsibilities of

• Monitoring the establishment of all such MOAs in order to ensure that they comply with Ohio State's norms for such agreements.
• Securing the signatures, where appropriate, of the Provost and the President.
• Maintaining Ohio State's files and records of all agreements.

Ohio State Norms

The basic norms that the University applies to each MOA is that it:

• Enhances the University’s international activities.
• Meets the objectives of the Academic Plan.
• Links the University with the appropriate foreign institutions.
• Does not impose financial, personnel or other obligations upon the University that it cannot reasonably be expected to fulfill.
• Does not subject its faculty, staff and students to undue risk or danger.
• Does not entail unwarranted duplication of existing activities in a given country or region of the world.

Process for Establishing an MOA

Proposals for a new MOA with a foreign university should be discussed with the Office of International Affairs in advance of making any commitments. Individual faculty members who wish to propose a MOA, are expected to have the full support of their academic unit and college before the MOA is negotiated. Please note these protocols do not apply to sponsored research projects. In these cases, the norms of the Ohio State University Research Foundation or the Office of the Vice President for Research are applicable.

For more information about establishing an MOA, please contact the Office of International Affairs at at 614-292-9999, or email Joanna Kukielka Blaser at kukielka-blaser.1@osu.edu.