Strategic Institutional Partnerships (SIP)
European Partnerships
- ENLIGHT
- University of Kent
- Université de Lille - I-SITE Université Lille Nord-Europe
- 3i University Network
Intercontinental Partnerships
SIPs based on long-standing development cooperation projects
| SIP | Coordinator | Initial focus |
| Can Tho (Vietnam) | Koen Dewettinck |
Strengthening valorisation of joint research |
|
ESPOL (Ecuador) |
Peter Goethals |
Environmental science and technology |
|
Jimma (Ethiopia) |
Pascal Boeckx |
Expanding the research collaboration and PhD capacity building |
|
UWC (South Africa) |
Stef Slembrouck |
Turning Diversity into Capacity |
SIPs based on research excellence
| SIP | Coordinator | Initial research topics |
|
Macquarie University (Australia) |
Michel Tison |
Health |
|
(Australia) |
Korneel Rabaey |
Knowledge Exchange and Entrepreneurship |
|
(Canada) |
Andrew Bricker |
Health equity & impact |
|
(USA) |
Lies Lahousse |
Neurocognitive, cardiovascular and respiratory |
|
University of California at Berkeley (USA) |
Luc Martens |
European studies |
More info and Contact
More info about the aims, criteria and structure of the SIPs is available for download: strategic-partnerships-2020.pdf
pieterj.pauwels@ugent.be
Office of the Director of Internationalization
marieke.merckx@ugent.be
International Relations Office
Definition and Criteria
Whereas the Regional Platforms and the International Thematic Networks respectively focus on the cooperation with a certain region in the World or on a single interdisciplinary theme, the Strategic Institutional Partnerships focus on the university-wide cooperation with one or more preferential partners around the globe.
A strategic partnership is ‘a formal alliance between two or more higher education institutions developed through an international process whereby the partners share resources and leverage complementary strengths to achieve defined common objectives. Strategic cooperation is tied to the strategic goals and objectives of an academic unit, college or university as a whole. It indicates a multi-dimensional engagement between the involved institutions and implies the joint undertaking of a diverse range of activities with the aim of the parties’ mutual benefit’ (Kuder, 2016).
In the framework of the integrated policy plan for internationalisation specific criteria were defined for Ghent University's Strategic Institutional Partnerships.
- Multidimensional character, not bound to a single faculty or thematic focus
- Top-down and bottom-up balance
- Sustainable cooperation across various projects and initiatives
- Added value aimed at strengthening the individual position of the partners
- Mutual recognition and investment
Context: the Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalisation
In addition to the Regional Platforms and the International Thematic Networks, a third model for strategic international cooperation has been put forward in the framework of the Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalisation: Strategic Institutional Partnerships (SIPs).
The goals for Ghent University’s strategic international cooperation are:
- to strengthen the link between research, education and services to society, within an international context;
- to enhance visibility and impact of Ghent University by coordinating long-term partnerships to consolidate the leading role of Ghent University;
- to seize opportunities (networking, funding...) within the international environment to enhance the impact of Ghent University.
Special emphasis is put on collaborations that:
- focus on networking with high level and/or high potential partners;
- focus on networking with countries, regions or around themes of strategic importance for Ghent University;
- focus on human capacity building with partners in the South;
- align themselves with the overall strategic goals of Ghent University in sustainable development and internationalization.