Building Long-term Global Partnerships with the Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) Programme
The Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) programme is a cornerstone initiative designed to forge long-term partnerships between universities in our partner countries and Flemish higher education institutions. This 10-year collaboration aims to empower partner universities to fulfil their roles as driver of change for global sustainable development in its country and region. IUC projects focus on strengthening educational and research capacities via different academic theme based sub-projects, as well as improved institutional performance via transversal institutional strengthening sub-projects.
Key Highlights
• Duration: 10 years of transformative collaboration (preceded by a phase-in period and followed by a phase-out period)
• Budget: 600,000 EUR per year
• Focus: Enhancing both external development impact and internal institutional capacity
• Partner Countries: Benin, Bolivia, Burundi, Cuba, DR Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam
Why IUC Projects Matter
IUC represents a decade-long significant commitment, fostering deep and sustainable partnerships. Due to its scale, this project type requires significant commitment from both the partner institution and the Flemish Institution(s). This extended timeframe allows for meaningful development and transformation, ensuring that the local university can evolve and adapt to better serve its community and stakeholders.
The programme is not just about addressing external development challenges but also about driving internal change within the partner universities. This is done in two parts: By enabling change process within the partner university leading to improved institutional performance via transversal institutional strengthening sub-projects, and by strengthening educational and research capacities via different academic theme based sub-projects.
Good Practice
IUC Partnership with Quy Nhon University in Vietnam
This IUC project consists of a partnership between Quy Nhon University, KU Leuven, UGent, UHasselt and HOGENT. This IUC is composed of 7 sub-projects with the goal of “Improving QNU’s capacity to improve the livelihoods and living conditions of the local communities” in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands of Vietnam towards sustainable development.