Overview
Harvard strongly values its international connections and considers the free exchange of ideas among students and scholars across the globe to be paramount to the University’s mission. Nevertheless, the accurate identification and review of research projects that include international components is necessary to ensure compliance with the numerous regulatory and administrative requirements that can arise from international collaborations. Our federal and non-federal sponsors have varying levels of interest and scrutiny relative to the University’s international footprint and associated compliance processes. However, regardless of how wide or narrow of a view any particular sponsor may take with respect to required disclosures, Harvard must be able to aggregate data with respect to and, at times, report on all forms of its international activities in order to effectively manage the associated administrative and compliance obligations.
The key objectives of the International Collaborations and Activities Approval are to: (i) provide a consolidated means of collecting and systematizing information regarding Harvard’s international sponsored activities; (ii) establish better internal controls related to such activities; and (iii) enable the University, when needed, to report on its international sponsored activities both internally and externally, including in accordance with applicable sponsor requirements. In addition, by tracking international sponsored activities on a comprehensive scale, the University is better positioned to accommodate future revisions to regulatory and policy requirements, and to address any related changes in compliance and disclosure best practices. Aggregating this information will further enable the University to respond to international emergencies in a more effective and informed manner, as needed.
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