The Athabasca University Governing Council

Further to the Memorandum of Understanding between the parties dated effective November 2007, this Agreement is between Università Politecnica delle Marche, acting through its Dip. Ing. Informatica, Gestionale e dell' Automazione, hereinafter referred to as 'UNIVPM' and The Athabasca University Governing Council, acting through its School of Computing and Information Systems hereinafter referred to as 'Athabasca', and specifies the Joint Research and Scholarship Program, hereinafter referred to as 'the Program'.



1.  Statement of Purpose
1.1 This Agreement seeks to expand the scholarship and research capabilities of staff and research students, improve the quality of research and promote collaboration between the two institutions primarily in, but not necessarily limited to, the areas of computer science, information systems, and learning technologies.

2.  Definitions
2.1 The 'Home institution' is the institution in which the staff and research students are based.
2.2 The 'Host institution' is the institution hosting the staff and research students of the Home institution.

3.   Joint research and scholarship program
3.1 The Program is founded on a reciprocal basis, with the intention of achieving an equal number of staff and research students collaborating either individually or in teams over a mutually agreed period of time. Initially, the Program should be for up to three staff and/or research students per year from each institution.
3.2 There will be no obligation on either institution to nominate staff and research students for the Program, but the institutions will actively seek to identify and select suitable individuals and/or research teams. All decisions for UNIVPM will be made at the Director's office, Dip. Ing. Informatica, Gestionale e dell' Automazione, Università Politecnica delle Marche, and all decisions for Athabasca by the Vice President Academic.
3.3 Participating research students will be studying at their Home institution at Masters level or above towards research oriented qualifications. They will remain students of their Home institution, and will not be candidates for awards of qualifications of the Host institution.
3.4 The joint collaboration will initially be in following categories:
            3.4. 1     Research student co-supervision
            Staff from both institutions will co-supervise doctoral students, the staff member from Home institution being primary supervisor. Both institutions agree to provide appropriate time resources for the supervisors, with the Home institution providing all other resources as governed by the rules of their own institution's doctoral study program.
            The eligibility of supervisors will be determined by the rules of the Home institution's doctoral study program. Both parties will be free to terminate co-supervision at any time by giving at least 60 days written notice to other party. In the case of early termination of co-supervision, the institutions will work together to ensure the research students' ability to complete the course of study is not jeopardized.
             3.4. 2     Joint research-based teaching
             Staff from either institution may co-teach research-based papers/courses at Host institutions via e-learning approaches or in person, for which the typical duration will be one semester. Staff visiting Host institutions in person will also be expected to explore common research areas with colleagues at Host institutions for possible joint research projects.
               Staff interested in teaching at Host institutions will submit proposals outlining the paper/course content and details of intended audience. Final selection will be made with approval from both institutions. Once teaching on a particular paper/course has commenced, both parties will take reasonable steps to ensure its successful completion.
             3.4. 3     Joint research initiatives
Staff from both institutions will cooperate to develop joint research initiatives which will enhance the research capability and expertise of the individuals and the institutions.

4.   FINANCIAL & OTHER MATTERS
4.1 The  Agreement is made with the reservation that although both parties have the necessary financial means at their disposal nothing will diminish the full authority of either party, nor will any constraint or financial obligations be imposed by either party upon the other except where the parties have other wise agreed in writing in accordance with Section 4.2 herein.
4.2 The financial and other conditions for the accommodation of the visiting researchers or teaching staff, the implementing of joint collaboration  projects and related questions and terms are to be decided on a case by case basis, by the parties hereto, acting reasonably, in writing, having regard to this Agreement.

5.   INSURANCE
5.1 All visiting staff and research students will be required to carry adequate travel and health (including hospitalization) insurance for the duration of their visits of such type and in such amount as required by the Host institution in its absolute discretion.

6.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS
6.1 This Agreement will be effective for a period of three years and subject to mutual written agreement may be renewed or extended.
6.2 Either party will be entitled at any time, at its absolute discretion, to terminate the Program by giving 30 days written notice to the other party.
6.3 Such termination will not affect any activities already started under this Agreement prior to termination, and both parties will take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to complete all commitments before the Program is terminated.

7.   ADMINISTRATION

All communication between the parties should be addressed to

For UNIVPM:
Director, Dip. Ing. Informatica, Gestionale e dell' Automazione
Università Politecnica delle Marche
v. Brecce Bianche
60131 Ancona-Italy
Ph: +39 071 2204842
Fax: +39 071 2204474
Email: tommaso.leo@univpm.it

For Athabasca:
Director of the School of Computing and Information Systems
Athabasca University
Athabasca
Canada
Ph:         +1 780 675 6812
Fax:        +1 780 675 6148
Email:     kinshuk@athabascau.ca

8.   VARIATIONS
            Any variations or amendments to the Agreement must be agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

9.    DISPUTES
9.1 Where matters of concern arise between the parties to this Agreement it is expected that a mutually satisfactory resolution will be found through direct consultation between the parties, if no agreement can be reached, mediation and arbitration may be sought from a third party if both parties agree to such mediation or arbitration and the conditions under which it will be conducted.
9.2 In the case of staff and/or research student matters the regulations of the Home institution will be observed. 
9.3 Notwithstanding the above two Clauses in this section, the parties expressly disclaim all liabilities, expressed or implied, for the activities of the other party in this Agreement.

10.   CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
10.1 Prior to the exchange of any information between the parties of a confidential or proprietary nature, each party will execute and deliver to the other a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement which will be incorporated into this Agreement, and any agreement arising as a result of this Agreement, in a form satisfactory to both parties acting reasonably.

11.   STATUS
11.1 This Agreement merely sets out the general basis upon which the parties intend the Program to proceed.  Except for the sections titled Financial & Other Matters, Insurance and Confidential and Proprietary Information, this Agreement is a non-binding agreement between the parties and does not commit the parties to enter into any binding or legal arrangements.  The sections titled Financial & Other Matters, Insurance and Confidential and Proprietary Information will each be binding upon the parties and will be governed as to their interpretation and effect by the law of the Province of Alberta, Canada.
11.2  IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement was executed on the dates written below.