International cooperation Agreements

The International Cooperation Agreements agreements aim to encourage direct cooperation between institutions of higher learning in different countries and to promote the reciprocal exchange of teaching staff, researchers, students and technical and administrative staff.

The agreements are usually set up on the initiative of the Departments, to formalise pre-existing contacts in specific fields of interest, many of which involve several administrative units. The agreements establish the fields of study and research, the types of collaboration, as well as the insurance and funding procedures, based on strictly-observed criteria of equality and mutual interests.

Each University appoints a coordinator who promotes the implementation of the activities established by the agreement. The agreements are usually stipulated according to a draft agreement approved by the academic bodies of the University of Florence.

The procedures for the conclusion of agreements are governed by special guidelines that define the process to be followed for their activation and implementation as well as the competences of the parties involved in the process.
Agreements are concluded according to a framework scheme approved by the academic bodies and available in the most widely spoken languages. Prior acceptance of the framework scheme by the partner university is required to start the contracting procedures.

In order to facilitate the implementation of the agreements by the Departments, the Academic Bodies have approved a facsimile of an Implementation Protocol which - as provided for in Article 2, second subsection of the outline scheme - can be drawn up by the Department Directors to describe the procedures for implementing the exchanges (period of stay, obligations of the visitors, application selection procedures, detailed description of the topics covered by the agreement, etc.).

For the implementation of the activities provided for in the agreement, in particular student mobility, the coordinating teacher of the agreement must first ensure that the agreement is valid.