Sustaining the Partnership Over Time

Strong partnerships evolve over time, adding new projects, withstanding crises, and adding value to each institution. They become engines of transformation and mutual growth for their participants. They construct new knowledge from dialogue, build bonds of trust and understanding, and accomplish projects that neither institution could do on its own.

Not all partnerships reach this level of development. Many fade from inattention and inactivity. Those that grow and persist share certain traits in common.

Are embedded in overall partnership strategies of each institution

• Good institutional match, based on mission, strengths, community connections, fit with other partnerships, and partnership goals
• One of only a few partnerships, so that neither side is stretched too thin
• Fits with partnership strategy, policies and procedures of each institution
• All relevant decision-makers and constituencies represented in developing the partnership; neither just the administration nor just the faculty

Involve dialogue, commitment, and mutuality

• Time spent developing a shared understanding of partnership goals and procedures, navigating across national, cultural, linguistic, and institutional differences
• Trust developed by integrity, fairness, transparency, and honoring commitments; opportunistic activity downplayed
• Shared decision-making and collaborative determination of goals and projects are reality, as are reciprocity and mutual benefit
• There is respect for independence as well as partnership

Have the capacity to deal with difficulties

• Disagreements dealt with openly; procedures in place for resolving them
• Commitment to see partnership through difficult times
• What each side will provide is clear in way that recognizes assets on both sides and addresses, rather than perpetuates, inequalities
• Mutual understanding of academic freedom and ethical principles that will frame the partnership

Grow and change over time

• Pursue workable early projects that build base for later ones
• Have low-cost, on-going activities alongside more dramatic projects
• Exciting new activities emerge organically from the interaction
• Flexibility, adaptability, and openness to change, including internal change as the two institutions adapt to each other

Involve frequent communications and sustained relationship building

• Frequent, regularly scheduled communications and effective flow of information
• Each side has frequent on-the-ground presence at the other side
• As much attention paid to building and sustaining relationships as to any specific project

Spread across and transform each partner institution

• Spreads across multiple units within each institution, building network of supporters
• Faculty, staff and students guided in deepening knowledge of the nation, its relationship to their own nation, and the cultural/contextual differences framing the partnership
• Value of international collaboration and dialogue become central to teaching and research

Receive support and encouragement

• Institutions commit base funding to keep partnership going even in absence of new external funding; support faculty and students in engaging in the partnership
• Individual or group designated to manage partnership on each side
• Financial, personnel, and other resources are in place
• Procedural roadblocks identified and removed

Are monitored and reviewed

• Partnership activities are tracked and assessed
• Procedures exist for revising or terminating the partnership

Provide value to the participants

• Benefits outweigh costs
• Significant results, advancing each institution individually and the partnership collectively

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