International Partners

Division of Research

partnerships

International Partnerships

UNSW is a member of the Universitas 21 network of 23 leading international research-intensive universities and through this network, benefits from engagement with best international research practice and current international research issues, as well as shared research initiatives.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between UNSW and selected partner universities are entered into as a formal mechanism to signal a genuine commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership that meets strict criteria with clear benefits to staff and students, and alignment with UNSW research strengths.

Our defined areas of research strength include cross-disciplinary areas that address contemporary, global issues. As a result, a large proportion of UNSW’s research programmes involve significant collaboration with the leading researchers in the field, wherever they are located in the world.

International research collaborations are a significant component of the overall research productivity of the University:

  • 38% of 2007 publications were co-authored by at least one international collaborator; of these publications, 14% were co-authored with researchers from the USA, 7% with co-authors from the UK, and 4% each co-authored with researchers from Germany and China.
  • 270 MOUs with international Universities are in place to facilitate specific discipline-based research programmes and staff and student exchanges; these MOUs are with partners in Europe (40%), the Americas (20%), Northeast Asia (20%), Southeast Asia (10%) and South Asia (10%).

UNSW's International Research Strategy

UNSW’s engagement in international research is central to achieving research excellence in our defined areas of research strength, reflected in rankings in all major league tables. The international research strategy centres on mechanisms that:

  • facilitate productive, high impact, international research collaborations;
  • result in increased international research funding, and research outputs; 
  • showcase UNSW research and researchers; and
  • enhance the profile and visibility of UNSW as a research-intensive University in the Asia-Pacific region and as a peer in good standing with the best globally.