Georgia Institute of Technology values building meaningful relationships with high-caliber international partners to expand academic and research opportunities globally. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is the first step in documenting the intentions of such partnerships. If you are a faculty or staff member interested in initiating an MOU, please follow these steps:
1. Explore Recommendations for International Collaborations
Review the guidance provided on the International Collaborations & Partnerships site. This resource includes important recommendations and outlines key legal and compliance considerations to address when establishing international partnerships.
2. Access and Customize the MOU Template
- Email Florence Stoia to request the updated MOU template.
- Update the template with details about the potential collaborator.
- Use track changes to document all edits. This is essential for a smooth review process. Omitting this step may result in delays in finalizing the agreement.
- Use the “Insert Comment” feature to highlight questions or concerns. This helps ensure clear communication and allows us to address your feedback efficiently.
- Keep all iterations in MS Word format.
- Include the contact information in the designated sections.
3. Submit the Updated MOU
Once you have completed and saved your changes to the document, send the updated file to Florence Stoia.
4. Facilitation and Review
The Office of International Operations will coordinate the review process through restricted party screening and then with the Office of General Counsel and other relevant stakeholders. Please allow 5-7 business days for this review, depending on the extent of changes requested.
Note: Depending on the edits requested, this step may involve multiple rounds of edits.
5. MOU Execution
After the MOU is approved in legal form and signed by the Vice Provost for International Initiatives (VPII), you will receive a PDF copy containing the electronic signature of the VPII and the initials of the Office of General Counsel.
Please forward this copy to the collaborating partner for their final signature. Once the final signature is obtained, submit the fully executed MOU to intlops@gatech.edu.
6. MOU Signing Ceremony
Requests to invite the Vice Provost for International Initiatives to an MOU signing ceremony at Georgia Tech should be coordinated through the Office of the Vice Provost for International Initiatives (VPII) Program Manager. To ensure proper planning and execution, please provide as much advance notice as possible. For any questions, please contact Florence Stoia.
For any questions or additional guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to support you in establishing impactful global partnerships!
- For information on Memoranda of Understanding, please contact The Office of International Operations.
- For information on educational agreements, please contact Amy Henry, executive director in the Office of International Education.
- For information on research agreements, please contact Yatri Amin, associate in industry and international contracts, at the Georgia Tech Research Corporation.