About Your Foreign Partner

About your foreign partner diagram

What do you know about your foreign partner?

The online resources listed in the table below can be used to find details about the institutional or political/economic context in which your foreign partner operates. These resources can assist in creating a profile for due diligence purposes or to help determine whether an entity or individual meets the criteria under a foreign engagement compliance scheme (e.g. arrangements requiring registration under a scheme, an application for a permit, a detailed review of the terms of contract, additional internal assessment and approval). You should always know your partner before proceeding with a foreign engagement activity.

Check to see if the University has an existing international partnership or agreement using the .

Resource Description For information about:
Institutional autonomy in international universities
Institutional Governance and Management of Public Higher Education Institutions in Southeast Asia.
  • Reforms in聽governance & management
  • Institutional autonomy

The Global Public Policy Institute (GGPi) ranks the status of academic freedom in 175 countries from A to E based on aggregate data.

GGPi is an independent non-profit think tank based in Berlin funded by various foundations, governments and the UE and UN.
  • Freedom of academic and cultural expression
160 Chinese institutions engaged in military or security-related science and technology research assessed by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute鈥檚 International Cyber Policy Centre with funding from the US Department of State鈥檚 Global Engagement Center.
  • Military links
  • Security links
  • Connection to human rights abuses
  • Connections to espionage
This searchable register lists foreign arrangements notified to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Foreign Arrangement Scheme. Any foreign university or research institute listed because they meet the 鈥渓ack of autonomy鈥 criteria would indicate that any proposed arrangement must be notified under the Scheme. The Register is maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • Institutional autonomy
  • Entities connected to foreign governments or political parties
Compares 29 European higher education systems. The resource is published by the European University Association which is a representative body for the higher education sector.
  • Organisational autonomy (in the appointment of officers)
  • Financial autonomy (funding types)
  • Staffing autonomy (in recruitment, promotion and discipline)
  • Academic autonomy (admissions, quality assurance, content design of degree programs)
Country / government / agency profiles
An online encyclopaedia edited by Wikipedia users.
  • Government agencies by country, level and type
  • Sub-agencies, including government authorities, corporations and organisations
Online global business resource providing various country-based indicators and rankings. The resource is published by the International Business Center and the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. It is partially funded by a U.S. Department of Education.
  • Detailed country profiles
  • Links to other international sources of information / declarations country status (BBC News, US Dept of State, World Bank)
Comparative measure of the effectiveness of a country鈥檚 governance. The index is based on aggregate data to create indicators of the way a country and its citizens are governed.
  • Public voice and accountability
  • Political stability and absence of violence
  • Government effectiveness
  • Regulatory quality
  • Rule of law
  • Control of corruption
Ranks 180 countries and territories according to risk of public sector corruption, as perceived by a range of experts and business people.
  • Bribery and Corruption risks
  • Accountability of public institutions
  • Transparent corruption response
Australia's perspective on the world
Profiles 240 countries 鈥 the people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations
  • Diplomatic relationship with Australia
  • Political system overviews
  • Commitment to human rights protections
  • Economic systems / market overview
Up to date advice on significant changes in overseas destinations
  • Country status updates and risk profile
Supports connections Australian and international businesses
  • Profile of national economies聽/ industries
  • Export market briefs
Database managed by Defence Export Controls (DEC) listing restricted export activity
  • List of strategically sensitive goods, technologies, technical knowledge or services subject to export restrictions.
Restrict foreign engagements with prescribed countries, governments, groups or individuals associated with these entities.
  • Current Australian & UN restrictions on foreign trade, provision of services, financial transactions and travel
Australian Government鈥檚 position on foreign relationships and international engagement.
  • Australian Government鈥檚 public policy position on foreign engagement priorities and identified foreign threats and risks.

Note: you should consult a number of sources if you are relying on these resources alone in compiling a due diligence background check for a foreign entity. Seek assistance if your findings raise any concerns or queries.