Global systems that align with University policies and facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships

UCLA faculty and staff are involved in collaborations across the globe, ranging from clinical service delivery to medical education and research. We are committed to strengthening systems that can improve these global operations while adhering to University policies, and are actively working with the UCLA International Institute and campus leadership to achieve these goals.

Currently, DGSOM supports three types of partnership agreements, each of which differs slightly in purpose and scope. Please review the information below and contact Zoe Stathopoulos, GHP Director of Operations, at ZStathopoulos@mednet.ucla.edu with any questions.  

Our mission to contribute to sustainable health initiatives and to address health inequities would not be possible without deep and meaningful relationships with partner institutions around the world.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can be an excellent way to launch a new partnership by outlining a mutually agreed-upon set of goals and objectives for exploration. To streamline the process for obtaining MOUs and minimize duplication across the University, we have developed a process for supporting the development of MOUs and facilitating final sign-off by the Dean. Please see our MOU guidance document and checklist for more information.

If you have any questions before starting or during the MOU process, please contact Zoe Stathopoulos at ZStathopoulos@mednet.ucla.edu.

In addition to MOUs, Affiliation Agreements (AAs) offer another avenue to formalize partnerships with foreign institutions/organizations. Unlike MOUs, AAs are legally binding agreements between UCLA and a foreign organization that provide a framework for mutually beneficial education and training activities, including exchanges, and may involve a commitment of University resources (e.g., faculty or staff time, compensated faculty or staff time, etc.). Examples may include, but are not limited to, specialty training provided by DGSOM faculty to colleagues at an overseas institution, or formalizing medical student or residency rotations between a global partner site and UCLA. Like MOUs, AAs typically are valid for five years.

For DGSOM faculty and staff, the Global Health Program has developed a process to support the development of AAs and facilitate sign-off by the Dean. Please see our Affiliation Agreement guidance document and checklist for more information. If you have any questions before starting or during the process, please contact Zoe Stathopoulos at ZStathopoulos@mednet.ucla.edu.

In addition to MOUs, and AAs, Collaboration Agreements (CAs) offer another avenue to establish partnerships with foreign organizations. Unlike MOUs, CAs are legally binding agreements between UCLA and a foreign organization that provide a framework for a mutually beneficial academic and/or research exchange or other collaboration and may involve a commitment of University resources (e.g., faculty or staff time, compensated faculty or staff time, financial arrangements to host conferences/meetings, intellectual property, etc.). Examples may include, but are not limited to, organizing joint conferences on an ongoing basis where funding or other resources are provided, or the exchange of academic or other research information and materials on an ongoing basis. Like MOUs and AAs, this agreement typically is valid for five years.

For DGSOM faculty and staff, the Global Health Program has developed a process to support the development of Collaboration Agreements (CAs) and facilitate sign-off by the Dean. Please see our Collaboration Agreement guidance document and checklist for more information. If you have any questions before starting or during the process, please contact Zoe Stathopoulos at ZStathopoulos@mednet.ucla.edu.