Global Partnerships
OU has more than 150 signed agreements in 50 countries. These partnerships allow us to work in collaboration with universities and institutions around the world to advance education, scholarship and creative activity. Global partnerships enrich our campus, our community and our state and increase the visibility of Oakland University around the world.
Location: Kerala (and other campuses), India
Website: amrita.edu/
OU Department for contact: School of Business, Vijayan Sugumaran
Amrita contact: Sujatha Ramanathan, [email protected]
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary research academia that is accredited 'A++' by NAAC and is ranked as one of the best research institutions in India.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Programs:
Amrita and OU have an articulation agreement for the MSBA and MSITM. Programs are interdisciplinary and open to students from any undergraduate major. Multiple pathways available:
- 4 + 1.5 pathway for four-year undergraduate students.
- 3 + 1.5 pathway for students with three-year bachelor’s degrees.
- 1 + 1 dual-degree pathway (1 year at Amrita, 1 year at OU).
Up to 9 credits can transfer to OU; remaining 21 credits completed at OU for the master’s degree.
Oakland University also has an ASAP agreement with Amrita which allows either undergraduate or graduate students to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit towards their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school.
“My experience at Oakland University has been incredibly rewarding. The supportive faculty, diverse community and hands-on learning opportunities have helped me grow both professionally and personally.”
Yamini Pemmasani, Amrita/OU student
Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
Website: https://isb.nu.edu.pk//
OU Department for contact: School of Engineering and Computer Science
FAST-NUCES contact: Hammad Naveed, Iqra Usman, Officer – International Education Office, [email protected].
For more than a quarter of a century, FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES) has been at the forefront of higher education in Pakistan, setting benchmarks in teaching, research and innovation. With a strong legacy of academic excellence, industry collaboration and technological leadership, FAST NUCES continues to nurture bright minds into future-ready professionals and visionary leaders.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Programs:
Oakland University’s ASAP agreement with FAST-NUCES allows either undergraduate or graduate students to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit towards their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. The articulation agreement with FAST-NUCES allows graduate students to pursue full time study at OU towards a degree in the School of Engineering and Computer Science - OU will accept 16 transfer credits from FAST-NUCES to make a 1+1 program possible.
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Website: https://hcmut.edu.vn/en
OU Department for contact: School of Business
HCMUT contact: Tran Minh Quang, Associate Professor, Head, Department of Information Systems
Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) – member of Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) – was established in 1957.
Formerly known as the National Technical Center, HCMUT has been the largest center for scientific training and research as well as technology transfer in the Southern region of Vietnam.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Program:
Oakland University’s ASAP agreement with HCMUT allows either undergraduate or graduate students from HCMUT to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit toward their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. The articulation agreement with HCMUT allows graduate students to pursue full time study at OU towards an MSBA or MSITM degree.
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“Attending Oakland University has opened many new opportunities for me. As an international student, I have never felt isolated because of the strong support from the university and various international student organizations, which have helped me build meaningful relationships and feel connected.”
Triet Tran, HCMUT/ OU student
Location: Tamil Nadu, India
Website: https://www.kalasalingam.ac.in/
OU Department for contact: School of Business, Vijayan Sugumaran
KARE contact: Dr K. Suthendran.
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (KARE) was founded in 1984. Its mission is to provide a scholarly teaching-learning ambience which results in creating graduates equipped with skills and acumen to solve real-life problems, to promote research and create knowledge for human welfare, rural and societal development, and to nurture entrepreneurial ambition, industrial and societal connect by creating an environment through which innovators and leaders emerge.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Programs:
Oakland University’s ASAP agreement with KARE allows either undergraduate or graduate students from KARE to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit towards their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. The articulation agreement with KARE allows graduate students from KARE to enroll in the MSITM/ MSBA program - up to 49% will be accepted as transfer credits from KARE to make a 1+1 program.
Location: Tunis, Tunisia
Website: https://www.smu.tn/medtech
OU Department for contact: School of Engineering and Computer Science
MedTech contact: Ines Ben Othman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, International Programs Department
MedTech was created in 2014, as the Engineering School of South Mediterranean University. It is a university and community driven by a shared purpose: to develop the minds of young engineers in the fields of Software Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Renewable energies, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain applications. The MedTech community has a unique focus on developing the growing tech sector in Tunisia by providing all its members with resources such as a maker lab, a startup accelerator and a wide network spanning the entire world and innumerable areas of expertise.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
Featured Program:
Oakland University’s ASAP agreement with MedTech allows either undergraduate or graduate students from MedTech to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit toward their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. MedTech students often then progress to taking a graduate program at OU after the completion of their ASAP program.
“A lack of knowledge creates fear. Seeking knowledge creates courage. And we need both courage and knowledge to make a difference in this world.”
Sarra Ben Rejeb, MedTech/ OU student
Location: Amman, Jordan
Website: https://www.psut.edu.jo/en
OU Department for contact: School of Engineering and Computer Science and School of Business
PSUT contact: Leila Rawashdeh, Senior Coordinator International Partnerships
PSUT was established in 1991 under the name of Princess Sumaya University College for Technology. From its establishment, the University laid out for itself a path of leadership and excellence and quickly set out on that path. Since that time, it has attained lofty achievements which have taken it to prominence among the body of Jordanian universities.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Program:
Oakland University’s ASAP agreement with PSUT allows either undergraduate or graduate students from PSUT to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit toward their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. The articulation agreement with PSUT allows graduate students to pursue full time study at OU towards a degree in the school of Business or the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
“Transitioning from PSUT to Oakland University has been a transformative experience that strengthened both my technical foundation and global perspective. OU provided the environment and mentorship that helped me grow into the engineer I am today.”
Fares Shubeilat, PSUT/ OU student
Location: Tamilnadu, India
Website: https://vit.ac.in/
OU Department for contact: School of Business, Vijayan Sugumaran
VIT contact: Dr. R. Seenivasan
VIT was founded in 1985 as the Vellore Engineering College. It persistently seeks and adopts innovative methods to improve the quality of higher education on a consistent basis. The campus has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with students from all corners of the globe.
Active Formalized Agreements:
- ASAP agreement (American Semester Abroad Program)
- Articulation agreement
Featured Program:
OU’s ASAP agreement with VIT allows either undergraduate or graduate students from VIT to study at OU for one or two semesters, obtaining credit toward their program completion or taking courses in a new field of study before applying to graduate school. Students from VIT can also enroll in the MSITM/ MSBA program - up to 49% will be accepted as transfer credits from VIT to make a 1+1 program.
- If you are thinking about an international agreement, please read the guidelines before initiating an agreement. Contact Adem Althor [email protected], x4730, Executive Director of Global Engagement if you have a question about the process.
- Make sure you have your Dean's support
- Chose a template, complete and submit it. You will receive an email with the draft agreement as an attachment, and a link to the routing and approval form.
- Agreements take time to finalize not only here at Oakland but with partner institutions. It is a good idea to start a year in advance.
MOU
General document signed when exploring possibilities for collaboration.
American Semester Abroad Program (ASAP)
Incoming non-degree seeking international students who spend one or two semesters at OU.
Articulation
Incoming international students, pursuing a degree objective (entirely or partially) at OU, and who will receive a degree from OU.
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Exploration phase or developing a specific program If discussions with a potential partner are in an exploratory stage an MOU can be signed. If specific programinmg is proposed, an additional agreement must be signed to reflect the proposed programming. Some partners like and/or require an MOU first as an intention to cooperate, however one of the above agreements can be signed first if the MOU is not needed.
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College-to-College or University-wide College-to-College agreements are those that focus on one college or even one or a few departments within a college and the corresponding college or department(s) at the overseas institution. University-wide agreements are much broader and should be evaluated by Global Engagement for their viability for Oakland as a whole.
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Degree objective or not Agreements can have a degree or a non-degree objective.
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Incoming international students. International students come to OU as non-degree seeking students (exchange, ASAP, ESL). They also come as degree seeking students, via an articulation agreement to complete their degree here at OU; or for an entire degree program at OU. In all cases they must follow admissions standards, comply with the English proficiency policy, pay published tuition rates and purchase the OU health insurance policy.
- Exchange: If you are contemplating an exchange, as a first step please reach out to Alex Zimmerman, director of International Education, at [email protected]. In an exchange:
- tuition is typically waived for both sides. Please Note: full tuition waivers are
restricted to non-degree seeking students in the exchange category. - students who are coming to OU on a tuition waiver still need to cover room/board, and health insurance. In addition, students are advised to budget approximately
$2000/semester for books and incidentals. Consider if students at the potential exchange partner will have access to a minimum of $8,000/semester. - Numbers must be kept in balance over time and therefore costs and demand on both sides of a proposed exchange must be carefully considered. An out of balance exchange results in a significant deficit.
- undergraduate students can only be exchanged with other undergraduate students.
Graduate students can only be exchanged with graduate students. - options must be evaluated for the number of viable courses (in many cases this means the number of courses in English) open to an outgoing OU student how they will count at OU. It is especially important for students to receive major credit on an exchange.
- A potential exchange destination must be evaluated by Global Engagement for risk and safety (see #12) including housing and local transportation.
- A potential exchange must have outgoing demand, if there is no demonstrable outgoing demand it is not an exchange. Consider the ASAP agreement type.
- tuition is typically waived for both sides. Please Note: full tuition waivers are
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Feasible or not It is important to consider the feasibility of a proposed program or idea. Is it likely there will be demand from students at OU and the partner school? Does this program compete directly with or draw students from an existing OU exchange or agreement? Why would students enroll in what is being proposed? Can they get a full schedule of courses? Can they afford to go?
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College/Department Point Person A point person is needed for each agreement.
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Approvals. All agreements are reviewed by and will need to be approved by: Dean; Global Engagement; Provost Office; Registrar; Admissions; Financial (other units/approvers will be added if needed)
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Template/Translations In all cases OU prefers to use its template and it will mean a faster approval process. Documents not in English must be translated into English prior to starting the agreement process.
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Length of agreements. Agreements are generally signed for 5 years. However for new exchange agreements the length is 3 years.
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Renewing agreements. Global Engagement will keep a database of agreements and prompt the department contact person 6 months prior to expiration for a review. At this time, it is important to consider the goal expressed in the agreement. For example: How many students participated in the program? If it is an exchange, is it in balance? Have students obtained their degrees? Has there been a successful research or faculty collaboration? How has Oakland's reputation grown in the partner institution/country? Renewing agreements will, in large part, depend on the success of the prior agreement.
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The U.S. Department of State has a 4 level travel advisory on travel.state.gov. Level 1 is "Exercise Normal Precautions" Level 2 is "Exercise Increased Caution." Level 3 is "Reconsider Travel" and Level 4 is "Do not travel" Oakland University will not organize programs for students in countries listed in the level 3 or 4 category.
Office of Global Engagement
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
