Purpose
This policy outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and proactive stewardship principles that guide institutional partnerships with IOWL. It ensures mutual alignment, integrity, and accountability across all collaborations, even during times of transition or change.
Scope
This policy applies to all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Partnership Agreements, Collaboration Agreements, and verbal commitments entered into by IOWL with universities, colleges, education providers, sponsors, and other strategic partners.
Process for Review and Action
- Regular Partnership Review Meeting - IOWL will convene review meetings with each partner institution at agreed intervals (normally annually) to assess progress, reaffirm shared goals, and address any contextual changes. These proactive reviews foster clarity, foresight, and continuity.
- Strategic Review Meeting - In cases of misalignment, inactivity, or sustained non-engagement, IOWL may initiate a strategic review meeting to seek resolution, renewal, or necessary adjustments in direction.
- Where appropriate and demonstrably justified, IOWL may allow incoming stakeholders to reaffirm - or, in exceptional circumstances (e.g. financial hardship, regulatory disruption, or major environmental shifts) - renegotiate or dissolve prior agreements.
However, changes in personnel or leadership (e.g. new Dean, VC, department head), personality conflicts, loss of institutional memory, administrative delay, or disinterest from new staff are not valid grounds for renegotiation. Agreements are institutional and expected to be honoured regardless of internal staffing transitions. - If no engagement or resolution is achieved within a reasonable timeframe (normally 90 days), IOWL may proceed with delinking and related remedial action.
Institutional Continuity and Incoming Personnel
Partnerships are entered into between institutions, not individuals. Newly appointed personnel within partner institutions are expected to honour existing agreements made by their predecessors. This protects institutional credibility and avoids rendering agreements unstable due to internal turnover. This same principle applies within IOWL, which also upholds agreements regardless of internal changes. Integrous partnerships demand continuity on both sides.
Mutual Standards of Professionalism
IOWL conducts all partnerships with courtesy, responsiveness, and professionalism, even in moments of disagreement. We expect our partners to do the same. Respectful and timely engagement is the baseline expectation in all collaborative relationships.
Partnership Governance Framework
Partnership governance is supported by the following bodies:
- International Advisory Council (IAC) - Global thought leaders offering strategic foresight and leadership integrity monitoring.
- Academic Council (ACC) - Nominated academic representatives ensuring quality, relevance, and collaborative accountability.
- International Academic and Advisory Council (IAAC) - A combined forum of the IAC and ACC for strategic alignment.
- International Assembly for Strategic Advisory and Collaboration (IASAC) - A strategic body of ministries and supranational partners committed to educational transformation aligned with IOWL Vision 2050.
Communication Protocol
- IOWL will issue formal updates to internal stakeholders where partnerships are altered.
- Web and public materials will be updated accordingly.
- Language will remain measured and aligned with IOWL's values of transparency and dignity.
- IOWL may inform its institutional Partnership and Governance network if a partnership is formally dissolved, including the rationale - e.g. repeated non-responsiveness or sustained unprofessional conduct - to protect the credibility of future partnerships.
Reserved Rights
- Publicly Delink from institutions that no longer uphold the spirit, terms, or minimum standards of a collaboration.
- Withdraw Recognition or Affiliation granted under prior agreements.
- Reclaim Exclusive Rights previously granted conditionally or based on trust (e.g., discounts, exclusivity).
- Communicate Withdrawal through stakeholder channels to protect reputational clarity and avoid ambiguity in future collaborations.
Policy Governance
This policy is overseen by the Office of Strategic Alignment and Integrity (OSA) and reviewed annually. Disputes or appeals must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of IOWL.
End of Policy Document