Seven tips for successful collaborations with other institutions

Collaborating with other higher education institutions can allow the sharing of resources, improve research quality and add to existing programmes, allowing all parties to achieve their objectives. 

But a successful partnership requires well-defined goals, mutual respect and open communication channels. Here, I’ll outline the best way to do this. 

Practical approaches for institutional collaboration

The following points may help when establishing collaborations between institutions.

- Set out an end goal

Being precise when identifying the goals you want to achieve – and how feasible it is to do so – can help when looking for potential partners.

- Study the target institution
Understanding the institution’s vision and how they operate helps to identify common ground. Some institutions may have pre-set rules and requirements for such connections, so investigate these thoroughly.

- Establish effective communication
Take the initiative! Do not wait for others to collaborate with you. Creating strong, multimodal and constantly open channels of communication is important for building trust. To streamline decision-making, both parties should designate specific staff for communicating.

- Agreements and ground setting
Clearly defining responsibilities, roles, objectives and understandings, while ensuring alignment with both institutions’ visions and maintaining ethical and professional conduct, sets the grounds for long-lasting relations and prevents mishaps down the road. Formal memoranda of understanding may clarify expectations and timelines, in addition to aspects related to finance.

- Data sharing and transparency
Providing mutual access to relevant data while harnessing the power of technological advances and artificial intelligence, especially in research-related collaborations, opens new opportunities for discoveries. 

- Compromise and adjustments
Adjusting methodologies and tailored solutions to better suit specific needs of partnered institutions may open doors for large-scale beneficial collaborations.

- Continuity and mutual advantage
As well-established collaborations grow old, revisiting both parties’ potential could very well open doors to newer opportunities that otherwise would have been left dormant.

Successful collaborations between different institutions require wisdom, patience and perseverance. However, when done right, they can lead to immense mutual advancement.

Remember:

• Justify and prioritise your collaborations
• Distribute resources according to contribution needs
• Maintain an open channel for communication
• Enforce ethical and professional conduct
• Adapt to changes and accommodate mutual benefits. 

Sami Mohamed is assistant professor at Dubai Medical College for Girls.

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