Towards greater efficiency in international activities: benchmarking and the evaluation of bilateral cooperation

So as to maximise the effectiveness of institutional international cooperation, there is a need to identify possible structures, domains, targets and the value of particular cooperation activities for an institution. A centralised top-down approach of concluding institutional agreements still takes place at many institutions. Many of these top-down agreements are very formal and do not reach their goals, ie do not function well at the faculty level. Yet such agreements could be very useful to stimulate numerous and different activities. As such, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania, has come to focus on benchmarking and the quantitative and qualitative assessments of bilateral cooperation as crucial parts of its strategy of internationalisation. In 2002, a system for assessment of international institutional agreements was created; the main objective was to set the needs for common activities with partner institutions and induce cooperation by diversification of activities. Assessment began with a revision of administrative and management procedures. Regulations for starting, negotiating, signing, supervising and cancelling bilateral agreements have been confirmed, with coordinators nominated for every agreement.