AGREEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF SALENTO (ITALY) AND ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY (ZAMBIA)

The University of Salento (Italy), represented by its Rector Prof. Fabio Pollice acting on the basis of the Statute, and the St. Bonaventure University, represented by its Rector Fr. Alfigio Tunha OFM acting on the basis of the Statute, considering that:

the universities are the main centre for national scientific research; it is their task to critically process and promote the spread of scientific knowledge; it is in the universities’ interest to establish a long-lasting relationship of cooperation and cultural exchange;

agree on the following points:

ARTICLE 1. Application of the agreement

1.1. The St. Bonaventure University (Zambia) and the University of Salento (hereafter referred to as the “contracting Universities”), shall set up an agreement of collaboration based on equality and reciprocal advantage.

In order to fulfil the aims set out in point one of this article, cooperation may take place by the following means:

• exchange of researchers, teaching staff and students within the norms of the respective countries;
• exchange of information, documentation and scientific publications;
• joint publications corresponding to the common interests of both the contracting universities;
• organization of international conferences, study meetings, seminars and courses on the themes envisaged by the agreement;
• exchange of teaching staff for short teaching periods;
• exchange of students from the above mentioned area;
• programmes aimed at issuing joint qualifications, recognised by both contracting universities, which are compatible with the existing national laws and regulations and the norms of each of the contracting universities, on the basis of the present agreement;
• setting up of a I or II level Master degree or other post-graduate specialization courses, with the issuing of a joint qualification which is compatible with each of the national norms and in accordance with the procedures agreed upon, to be defined by means of a specific executive deed;
• setting up of research and/or innovation projects in any area of common interest to the contracting universities. Use of funds granted by the EU Program Erasmus+ KA171 Implementation and development of the International African Centre for Applied Phenomenology (IACAP) of St. Bonaventure University, directed by Prof. Dr. Giorgio Rizzo, University of Salento, associated to the Centre for Hermeneutics and Applied Phenomenology (CHAP) dell’Università del Salento

ARTICLE 2. Academic Mobility

2.1. The following concerns the mobility of undergraduate and postgraduate students:

The students attending a degree course or a PhD course in the host university will be exempt from paying that university’s enrolment fees, paying them instead to their University of origin (unless otherwise specified in the agreement). The contracting universities will agree in advance upon a programme of study (or of research in the case of a PhD student) with the host university, undertaking to recognize what has been accomplished by their own students during their period of study abroad. At the conclusion of the period of study, the host university will issue an appropriate certificate attesting the work accomplished by the student, the courses followed and any exams taken. The host University will set up advice and academic assistance which will be available to the exchange students from enrolment and for the entirety of their stay. It will also provide the students with information concerning the courses and services available. All personal expenses, including board, accommodation and health expenses are to be paid by each individual student or by grants, like the EU Program Erasmus+ KA171, devoted to financially support the exchange of students. The host university will provide assistance in looking for accommodation, although it will not be responsible for actually providing any accommodation. Concerning the mobility of people from outside the EU, students are responsible for obtaining visas or other documents that may be necessary in order to participate in the exchange.

ARTICLE 3. Planning of activities

3.1. Annual programmes will be approved by the contracting universities.The aforemen¬tioned universities will be responsible for presenting the agreed activities to national or international bodies, with the aim of applying for funds for projects of common interest. The programmes, projects and agreement for cooperation may become an integral part of any eventual cultural convention between the governments of the respective countries, just as they may become part of international programmes of academic exchange.

ARTICLE 4. Implementation of activities

4.1 Each contracting university will develop a specific programme of joint activities, which will be attached to the present agreement. Each contracting university will nominate a coordinating professor/lecturer who, as an institutional representative, will supervise the development of activities.

4.2 Each contracting university will present a report of the activities undertaken at the end of each year and at the same time, will prepare a plan for the following year. To this end, each university will nominate the persons responsible for implementing the activities planned and coordinating the activities for the following year.

4.3 The activities coordinator, as a representative for each university, will supervise the implementation and fulfilment of the agreement on behalf of the teaching and administrative bodies of each of the contracting universities.

4.4 The activities coordinator will be responsible for presenting to the office of international relations or equivalent structure in the organisation of the contracting university, a report of the activities implemented and a report of the academic activities to be developed throughout the following year.

ARTICLE 5. Approval

5.1 This agreement of international university cooperation is approved in conformity with the laws and internal regulations governing each of the contracting universities and will come into force from the date of being signed. This same agreement will last for three years and may be prolonged prior to its conclusion by means of resolutions by the competent organs of each contracting university.

5.2 Either of the parties may withdraw from the agreement provided that they inform the other party in writing by registered letter with return receipt at least three months before the intended end of the agreement. In all eventualities, both parties undertake to guarantee the regular completion of any activity in progress.

5.3 This agreement of international university cooperation will be signed in two original copies in English and Italian.