Strategic Partnerships Models and Frameworks (EMEA)

Many organisations talk about strategic partnerships, yet there is often little agreement on what makes a partnership genuinely strategic. While some collaborations may involve significant activity, others create long-term value through shared vision, institutional commitment, and mutual investment. Understanding these differences is critical to developing a more strategic approach to partnering.

This workshop introduces participants to different concepts, frameworks, and models used to identify, classify, and prioritise partnerships. Participants will explore the evolution of partnerships from initial engagement through to long-term strategic collaboration, examine different partnership models used around the world, and consider the criteria organisations use to determine where to invest their time, resources, and effort.

The session draws on UIIN’s Partnership Stairway and Partnership Framework, alongside international examples, to help participants reflect on their own context and develop practical approaches for strengthening partnership strategy and decision-making.

This workshop is designed for:

• Professional staff working in research partnerships, business engagement, innovation, external relations, advancement, or strategic partnerships.
• University leaders and managers responsible for partnership strategy and institutional collaboration.
• Academic staff leading collaborative research or long-term external partnerships.
• Industry, government, and non-profit professionals responsible for building strategic relationships with universities.
• Anyone seeking a more structured approach to partnership development, classification, and decision-making.

By participating in this workshop, you will:

1. Understand the characteristics of strategic partnerships and how they differ from transactional collaborations.
2. Explore how partnerships evolve from initial engagement to long-term strategic collaboration.
3. Examine different partnership models used by universities, industry, and innovation ecosystems.
4. Learn how partnership classification frameworks can support decision-making, prioritisation, and resource allocation.
5. Identify the criteria and characteristics that define different types of partnerships.
6. Begin designing a partnership model or framework suitable for your own organisation.

Sarah Jaber, Director, UIIN

Sarah is a Director at UIIN and an experienced consultant. She advises universities globally about university – industry engagement, strategic partnerships and institutional strategy. At UIIN, Sarah leads the advisory and business development practice, designing and delivering innovative solutions to enhance universities’ external engagement.

UIIN Masterclasses are live, interactive workshops designed to provide in-depth learning on key topics related to university-industry collaboration. Led by experts, these sessions combine guided discussions, hands-on exercises, and peer learning to help participants develop practical strategies and skills.