Building Global Research Partnerships: Global Fellows Workshop Highlights Agreements and Collaboration at UF
Beth Keeter and Kellie Crawford (Division of Sponsored Programs) discuss how UF
supports faculty in negotiating international research agreements the Global Fellows Workshop.
The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) continued its Global Fellows Program workshop series with a session focused on one of the most important aspects of international research: building partnerships and navigating the agreements that enable collaboration. Workshop 4, “International Partnerships and Agreements,” featured speakers from the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) at UF Research and the UF International Center’s Office for Global Research Engagement (OGRE).
Understanding the Role of the Division of Sponsored Programs
The first portion of the workshop focused on the institutional framework that governs research agreements at UF. Beth Keeter, Associate Director of the Division of Sponsored Programs, and Kellie Crawford, Outgoing Subawards Manager, provided faculty fellows with an overview of how DSP supports researchers in negotiating and executing sponsored research agreements. At UF, DSP serves as the only authorized signatory for research and sponsored activities. “All proposals and agreements involving sponsored funding must be reviewed and processed through DSP before any commitments are made to sponsors,” explained Keeter.
Faculty were introduced to UFIRST, the university’s proposal, agreement, award, and subaward management system. UFIRST facilitates internal review, tracks revisions and communication during the negotiation process, and serves as the official repository for documentation related to research agreements.
The presenters also outlined the wide range of agreements that DSP manages, including both funded and unfunded agreements such as research contracts, grant agreements, cooperative agreements, data use agreements (DUAs), confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements (CDAs/NDAs), equipment loan agreements, software licensing agreements, and teaming agreements.
Kellie Crawford also discussed subaward contracts, which are used when UF collaborates with another institution that receives a portion of the sponsored funding. These agreements ensure that each partner’s responsibilities and compliance obligations are clearly defined.
The Role of the International Center in Building Global Partnerships
The second half of the workshop shifted the focus from contracts to the international partnerships and agreements that support research collaboration. Dr. Michael Kung, Director of the Office for Global Research Engagement at UFIC, discussed how the International Center helps faculty establish and sustain partnerships with institutions worldwide. While DSP oversees agreements with a sponsored research component, UFIC manages international cooperative agreements, student exchange agreements, and study abroad contracts that facilitate broader academic collaboration.
Cooperative agreements, for example, often serve as a foundation for collaboration between institutions. These agreements are generally not legally binding funding contracts but rather frameworks that signal an institutional intent to collaborate. They can support faculty and student mobility, research cooperation, and access to specialized facilities or resources at partner institutions. Reciprocal exchange agreements, on the other hand, enable bilateral student exchanges between accredited institutions, allowing students to study abroad while continuing to pay tuition at their home institution. Study abroad contracts formalize partnerships with international institutions or third-party providers that host UF students overseas.
Michael Kung, Director of the Office for Global Research Engagement at the UF International Center,
shares how international partnerships and agreements support global research collaboration.
Why International Partnerships Matter
A central theme of the workshop was the strategic importance of international partnerships for advancing research. Collaborations across borders enable institutions to exchange expertise, access unique resources, and bring diverse perspectives together to address complex challenges. These partnerships can open doors to new field sites, data sources, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Strong international partnerships can also enhance research innovation by combining complementary expertise, expand educational opportunities for students, increase the global visibility and impact of UF research, and strengthen institutional relationships across sectors, including academia, government, and industry.
Preparing Fellows for Global Impact
As the Global Fellows Program progresses, the workshop series continues to equip participants with practical knowledge and institutional insights to help them turn international research ideas into meaningful collaborations. By combining seed funding, mentorship, and targeted professional development workshops, the program provides early-career faculty with a strong foundation for launching international research initiatives that expand UF’s global research engagement and impact.
This year, UFIC awarded 18 Global Fellows seed grants to faculty whose proposals were selected for their originality and potential impact. Each fellowship includes a $5,000 grant to support early-stage international research activities such as exploratory fieldwork, meetings with international collaborators, preliminary data collection, and access to specialized resources not available at UF.
Learn more about the Global Fellows Program and follow UFIC for upcoming workshop highlights and cohort milestones.
Faculty fellows gather for Global Fellows Workshop to learn strategies for building
international research partnerships and navigating institutional agreements.