What options are there for cooperation? What factors need to be taken into account when designing a fitting cooperation strategy?

Cooperation between universities and partner institutions on degree programs is increasingly common in the higher education system. Cooperation agreements are established with partner institutions at national as well as international level. UT's partnerships include universities, clinics, state, research, educational and cultural institutions. UT develops innovative concepts and ideas with the partner institutions and implements them in the curricula of the degree programs.

These procedural guidelines supplement the existing »Procedural guidelines for degree program development at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen«. They describe the framework for cooperation in degree programs and define a binding procedure for planning and design. 

For all your questions on this topic, the team of Dept. III 1 advises and supports you.

The establishment of a new degree program is usually required when designing and developing a joint-degree program as well as a multiple-degree program. Joint Degree Programs represent a joint curriculum offered by partner institutions and lead to a joint degree (usually one joint academic degree/one certificate). Multiple Degree Programs represent an interlinked curriculum offered by partner institutions and lead to several degrees from the participating partner institutions (usually one academic degree per partner institution/multiple certificates).

This is to be distinguished from study programs in the form of a dual degree program or partial degree program. Dual Degree Programs comprise the parallel study of two degree programs at different partner institutions, each with its own degree from the participating universities. Partial Degree Programs are offered as part of a combined degree program, possibly at several universities. Such an arrangement is sought if a degree course cannot be completed in full at the university offering it and it is necessary to study a partial degree course at another university. In the case of partial degree programs, students choose from a larger number of possible subjects - often at other universities - so that each of these subjects is a partial degree program of a combination degree program.

In addition, cooperative degree programs are conceivable when the place of teaching and learning for the degree program is outsourced to an external partner institution. Such courses lead to a degree from UT and are designed by UT teaching staff; however, the place of teaching and learning is at an external partner institution. 

As part of the further development of existing degree programs, various forms can be integrated into the curriculum. The integration of a Multiple Degree Option enables the integration of the content of the study program with partner institutions and leads to several degrees from the participating partner institutions (usually one academic degree per partner institution/multiple certificates).The integration of an Exchange, Practical or Research Semester (compulsory or optional) enables students to gain international, practical or research experience at the partner institutions. The integration of an exchange, practical or research semester does not lead to multiple degrees, but complements or deepens the studies at UT and leads to a degree at UT.

The same applies to module-related cooperations. Joint Modules are cooperative teaching and learning units from several partner institutions, which are developed and offered jointly and integrated into the UT's curriculum. The Import and Export of Modules between participating partner institutions can be regulated in degree programs by means of module exchange. This form of cooperation makes it possible, for example, to integrate modules from external partner institutions into UT degree programs or to regulate the export of UT modules to partner institutions.

In addition, cooperation agreements are often concluded regarding Forms of Teaching and Learning/Teaching Exchange. This makes it possible to design forms of teaching and learning together with partner institutions and to offer them within existing modules of a UT degree program. Teaching import and export between degree programs at different partner institutions can also be regulated. This form of cooperation makes it possible, for example, to integrate courses from partner institutions into UT modules as an option.

If faculties and departments have questions about the design of degree program-related cooperation strategies, they can contact Department III.1 (Degree Program Planning and Development) at any time. In a comprehensive consultation process, Department III.1 works together with the faculties and departments to develop the necessary process steps as well as the time planning.