Depending on U of A priorities, campus availability, and the purpose of the visit, AZI may coordinate or facilitate:

• Introductory institutional visits
• Strategic partnership discussions
• Research collaboration meetings
• Faculty and leadership engagement sessions
• Student mobility and international education discussions
• Specialized thematic visits (e.g., sustainability, health sciences, water security, entrepreneurship, space sciences, etc.)
• Campus tours and presentations
• Courtesy or ceremonial visits
• Virtual meetings and online engagement

AZI primarily supports visits that involve institutional partnerships, strategic engagement, or cross-campus coordination. Note that some visits may be coordinated directly by individual colleges or departments. 

AZI reviews all visit requests carefully to determine whether the proposed engagement aligns with the U of A’s mission, priorities, and available resources.

In reviewing requests, AZI may consider:

• Alignment with U of A’s strategic priorities and academic interests
• Potential for meaningful collaboration or partnership development
• Existing relationships with U of A faculty, colleges, or units
• Relevance to research, education, or student success initiatives
• Availability of faculty, staff, leadership, and meeting space

Requests that involve long-term academic collaboration, research engagement, student mobility, or institutional partnership creation are generally prioritized. 

AZI may be unable to support requests that:

• Lack a clear purpose or proposed outcomes
• Are primarily ceremonial without a clear strategic academic engagement component that aligns with current U of A priorities
• Are submitted with insufficient advance notice

Submission of a request does not guarantee approval or meetings with U of A leadership, faculty, or specific departments. 

Visitors are strongly encouraged to submit requests at least six weeks in advance.

Requests involving the U of A President, Provost, agreement signings, or high-level government representatives may require additional approvals and coordination time. 

To help AZI evaluate and coordinate a visit request, visitors may be asked to provide the following information.

Delegation Information:

• Name of institution or organization
• Country of origin
• Delegation roster, including names and titles
• Institutional overview or background information
• Primary contact person and contact information

Purpose of Visit:

• Purpose and goals of the visit
• Areas of academic, research, or institutional interest
• Proposed outcomes or next steps
• Existing U of A partnerships or contacts, if applicable

Visit Logistics:

• Preferred dates and duration of the visit
• Proposed agenda or requested meetings and activities
• Interpretation needs (unless otherwise arranged, meetings and presentations are typically conducted in English)
• Dietary and accessibility needs

Leadership and Protocol Information:

• If applicable, visitors should indicate:
• Participation of senior government officials or institutional leaders
• Any diplomatic or protocol considerations 

After a request is received:

1. AZI will review the request for alignment and feasibility.
2. Relevant colleges, departments, or campus stakeholders may be consulted.
3. Availability of faculty, leadership, meeting space, and other resources will be assessed.
4. Visitors will be informed within one to two weeks regarding next steps, approval status, or additional information needs.
5. Certain visits or meeting requests may require additional review related to research security, export controls, or institutional compliance. 

Depending on the scope and nature of the visit, once a visit is approved, AZI may assist with:

• Visit coordination and scheduling
• Campus tours
• Meeting facilitation
• Institutional presentations
• Formal invitation letters for visa purposes

Visitors are generally responsible for:

• International and domestic travel arrangements
• Visa procurement
• Lodging and accommodations
• Meals unless otherwise arranged
• Local transportation unless otherwise specified
• Other incidental expenses 

AZI recognizes that travel is not always feasible and welcomes opportunities for virtual engagement.

• Virtual engagement options may include:
• Online partnership discussions
• Research networking meetings
• Virtual presentations and seminars

Virtual meetings may also be recommended in advance of an in-person visit or when an in-person visit is not feasible.