Abstract:
Now in its sixth year, the Australian Foreign Arrangements Scheme requires public universities to disclose formal agreements with certain foreign entities, aligning them with national foreign policy objectives and enhancing transparency in international partnerships.

While the Scheme promotes oversight, it has significantly increased the compliance burden on universities, particularly amid growing national security and defence-related regulations. Feedback from the sector suggests that the Scheme is not well-understood by foreign partners, complicating international collaborations.

This poster examines the Scheme’s scope, objectives, and its implications for institutional autonomy, accountability, and transparency.  It considers the outcomes of the recent independent review of the Scheme, and explores how universities have adapted partnership assessments and contract provisions to meet regulatory requirements.

Ultimately, this poster seeks to spark discussion on striking a balance between government oversight and the operational flexibility required for globally engaged higher education.

Learning objectives:
        – Understand the purpose and scope of the Australian Foreign Arrangements Scheme and its role in aligning university agreements with national foreign policy.
        – Analyze the impact of the Scheme on institutional autonomy, compliance, and administrative burden for Australian public universities.
        – Evaluate how universities have adapted partnership assessments and contractual provisions in response to regulatory requirements.
        – Explore the challenges international partners face in understanding and engaging with the Scheme.
        – Discuss strategies for balancing government oversight with universities’ operational flexibility in global higher education collaborations

Target audience:
University administrators, including staff members with responsibilities for international partnerships, compliance, and government-reporting.

Abstract:
In support of APAIE 2026’s theme “Building partnerships for the global good”, this poster highlights how European research institutions, in collaboration with global partners, are advancing inclusive academic mobility and sustainable knowledge exchange. It presents the case of the University of Lodz (UL) in Poland, a regional EURAXESS Contact Point, and its efforts to support international researchers and PhD students—especially those from the Asia-Pacific region—through enhanced infrastructure, cooperation, and access to the EURAXESS Worldwide network. The University of Lodz, through its role in the EURAXESS network, has strengthened its services for incoming international researchers.

In partnership with universities across Central Poland, it has launched a regional Welcome Point—funded by a national grant—to provide personalized support, legal advice, and social integration services to researchers and PhD students from abroad. This initiative not only exemplifies a good practice in regional coordination but also contributes to the broader objectives of the EURAXESS Worldwide initiative.

The poster will outline best practices, strategic partnerships, and institutional models that are adaptable across regions. By showcasing the synergies between local efforts and global platforms like EURAXESS Worldwide, the University of Lodz offers a valuable perspective for institutions in the Asia-Pacific region looking to foster reciprocal academic mobility and build stronger research links with Europe. 

Learning objectives:
– Understand the role of EURAXESS and EURAXESS Worldwide in facilitating international researcher mobility, with a focus on collaboration between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
– Learn how the University of Lodz, as a regional EURAXESS Contact Point, supports international researchers and PhD students through tailored services and infrastructure.
– Discover the impact of the regional Welcome Point initiative in Central Poland as a model for coordinated, inclusive researcher support.
– Explore best practices and strategic partnerships that can be adapted by institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen their own mobility programs.
– Gain insight into how global platforms and local institutions can work together to promote equitable, sustainable academic exchange.
– Identify opportunities for Asia-Pacific institutions to engage with EURAXESS and establish reciprocal research collaborations with European partners.

Target audience:
This session will benefit international office staff, researcher mobility coordinators, academic partnership managers, and
those involved in global engagement, researcher support, or internationalisation strategies—especially those seeking to
strengthen Europe–Asia-Pacific academic collaboration.