Selecting a Partner

When UNE staff are considering selection of potential partners they should consider a wide range of factors (commercial, legal, educational, regulatory) in assessing the suitability of a Partner. The following list, while not comprehensive, can be used as a guide for partner selection and for assessing risk.

Corporate Factors

• Character of the potential partner's operation
• Recognized university
• University other (standing?)
• College, polytechnic, etc
• Private education provider
• Connection to relevant Ministries in host government maintained by the potential Partner
• Relevant government accreditation/permits
• Connection to local education sector
• Other international relationships and linkages
• Financial strength and stability
• Past record of ethical behaviour
• Fraud and Plagiarism Prevention Policies

Operational and Commercial Factors

• Physical location in relation to target student market
• Physical location in relation to competitors
• Likelihood of partner growth
• Availability of teaching and learning facilities (e.g. rooms, computers, library)
• Quality of teaching and learning facilities
• Potential Partner's staffing profile
• Compatibility of business operating systems (e.g. accounts, communications)
• Compatibility of commercial philosophy
• Potential for significant commercial returns
• Risk to UNE's reputation
• Appropriate Insurance Coverage

Higher Education Factors

• An understanding of Australian higher education standards
• Alignment of internal value sets and shared empathy in education
• Comparability of status in national league of education institutions

External Factors

• Legislative requirements of the host government
• Local economic conditions
• Government sponsorship/scholarship opportunities
• Currency exposure risks
• Commercial Factors
• Student recruitment number
• Student retention record
• Student graduation numbers
• Student financial ability
• Financial returns
• Market share
• UNE visibility in host market

Education factors

• Student English language competency
• Enhancement of UNE's reputation in home market
• Flow-on benefits to UNE courses and research
• Flow-on benefits to UNE staff

    General Guidelines

• Staff members are encouraged to identify potential collaborative partnerships but should not make undertakings without following Faculty and University due processes.
  
  
• The relevant sections of  National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes must be considered when selecting a potential new partner.
  
  
• Only the Vice-Chancellor or a person authorised in writing by the Vice-Chancellor may sign an agreement or statement of intent with an educational institution, company or agency.
  
  
• All prevailing UNE policies and regulations, including academic and English language admission requirements, apply at all teaching locations and are not a matter for contractual specification or waiver.
  
  
• Agreements must not duplicate elements of specific UNE or Faculty rules and regulations.
  
  
• Only one contract may exist at any one time with any one institution that involves international students. Agreements may cover multiple courses and Faculties. The addition of a course to an existing agreement should be flagged as a major amendment to the course and routed through the Academic Board.  Once approved, the course can be formally added to the contract.
  
  
• Fees are to be set annually by recommendation of Entrpreneurial Committee to the Vice-Chancellor.
  

• Indicative fee levels can be included in an agreement but are subject to periodic change at UNE's discretion.