University co-operation framework agreement between
the
Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC)
and the
Italian Rectors' Conference (CRUI)
The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) and the Italian Rectors' Conference (CRUI), which met for the first time in Rome on 6th October 1999 to present and discuss the respective higher education systems, agree on the importance of promoting and furthering academic links between the two countries.
In this respect the two bodies sign the following framework agreement in the aim of promoting exchange in teaching and research.
The partners to this agreement intend to promote exchange of information on the respective higher education systems and to support initiatives in the field of university teaching and research collaboration.
ARTICLE 1
Fields of Co-operation
Co-operation is to be sought especially
· in the exchange of undergraduate students on both sides;
· in the exchange of academic staff and research assistants for the implementation of joint research projects;
· in establishing contacts in research and teaching, and in exchanging research information via publications, teaching materials, and electronic networks;
· through participation in symposia and other academic events;
· in elaborating a suitable academic credit transfer system;
· in elaborating a suitable system for academic qualifications recognition aimed at facilitate the prosecution of academic studies;
· in the exchange of experiences and dissemination of best practices in the field of university assessment processes.
ARTICLE 2
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
· Australian and Italian students on direct exchange on the basis of bilateral agreements between the two home institutions, for periods of a semester or more, and who remain validly enrolled for a degree or provide evidence of a formal leave of absence or exmatriculation by the home institution as participants of the exchange agreement and have paid any compulsory fees and charges in the home institution will not be required to pay additional tuition fees in the host institutions.
· Normally exchanges will be on a basis of parity of numbers but partner institutions may vary the balance as may be mutually agreed.
· The host institutions will provide to the home institution a statement/transcript of study undertaken and/or credit point achievements of each exchange student, in an agreed form.
ARTICLE 3
Admission
· The basis for entry for students will be agreed between each home and host institution, with each taking into account applicants' records of achievement, goals and the comparability of courses to be undertaken.
ARTICLE 4
Staff
· Proposals regarding the attachment of academic staff or researchers to a host institution shall be agreed in writing between the departments and institutes concerned well in advance of the period of stay.
· The parties to the agreement share the view that due consideration should be given to the wishes of both parties regarding the exchange of personnel and connected matters.
ARTICLE 5
Arrangements and Support
· The partner institutions agreeing on exchanges and attachments shall attempt to provide every necessary support to participants in the exchange during their stay. They shall allow the participants to use - as far as possible - the host institution's academic resources and amenities on the same terms as members of the host institution in the same category.
· The host institution shall endeavour to help participants gain access also to necessary facilities such as archives, libraries, museums and laboratories, and including computer facilities and photo-copying which are required for the successful completion of their academic program or research in the host institution.
· Participating students will enjoy the same rights and privileges and be subject to the same regulations and discipline as students of the host institution.
ARTICLE 6
Finance
· Member institutions of the AVCC and CRUI shall endeavour to finance programs under institutional bilateral arrangements established under this agreement. They shall inform each other in good time about the availability and allocation of funding. The availability of funding shall determine the scope of the program in any period.
· Details of the implementation of programs in partner institutions shall be jointly worked out by the appropriate academic structures (departments, faculties, etc.) and approved by appropriate authorities in those institutions. Specific work programs of this kind do not rule out additional academic contacts.
· The AVCC and the CRUI may facilitate broad national academic contact and exchange programs with varying patterns of voluntary involvement of member institutions in the two countries, utilising the good offices of allied bodies.
ARTICLE 7
Final considerations
Higher education institutions represented by the AVCC or by the CRUI are entitled to co-operate in accordance with this agreement and they shall supplement it by details of partnership arrangements negotiated bilaterally between the co-operating higher education institutions in each country.
The present framework agreement shall come into operation with the signing of this text and shall be valid for five years unless one of the parties gives written notice of discontinuation at least six months before the date of its termination.
Representatives of the AVCC and of the CRUI shall consult at regular intervals to consider the progress of co-operation and to instigate further projects.
Any amendments shall be agreed in writing after joint consultations.