Policy on Communication and Consultation with External Stakeholders

Policy Number	MU-POL-010	Issue Date	1.0
Issue Date	Jan- 2025	Review Date	Jan. 2027
Owner	Partnerships and Institutional Relations Office	Scope	All Staff & Students

I. Purpose and Objectives

Midocean University recognizes that meaningful engagement with its external institutional environment is a fundamental prerequisite for fulfilling its academic and societal mission. This policy establishes a structured and transparent framework for identifying external stakeholders and cultivating effective partnerships with them.

II. Classification of External Stakeholders

1. Governmental and Regulatory Bodies:

The Ministry of Higher Education of the Union of the Comoros (the licensing authority of the University).
National and international accreditation agencies.
Ministries of Education in the MENA region served by the University.
Regulatory bodies related to labor markets and employment.

2. Academic Institutions:

Partner universities and academic institutions at local, regional, and international levels.
Regional university associations and networks.
International university ranking bodies (QS, Times Higher Education, etc.).

3. Civil Society and Private Sector:

Civil society organizations and international entities working in education and development.
Employment partners and employers in both the public and private sectors.
Industry and professional associations relevant to the University’s academic disciplines.

4. Alumni and Student Community:

Midocean University Alumni Association.
Current student representatives and the Student Council.

III. Communication and Consultation Mechanisms

With Government Entities:

Submit all required periodic reports in accordance with designated deadlines.
Appointment of an official liaison officer for each key regulatory authority.
Active participation in regional consultations on educational policy development.

With Alumni:

Build and continuously update a comprehensive alumni database, linking it to the University’s online portal.
Organize regular virtual alumni forums and networking gatherings.
Conduct periodic surveys to track graduate employment outcomes and channel findings into ongoing program development.

With the Private Sector and Civil Society:

Establishment of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements to align curricula with labor market needs.
Form faculty-level advisory councils with representation from relevant private sector entities.
Host regular virtual forums to explore and discuss emerging professional and industry trends.

IV. Communication Principles

Transparency: Sharing essential information with stakeholders while respecting institutional confidentiality requirements.
Consistency: Adhering to predefined schedules for communication and consultation activities.
Documentation: Maintain thorough records of all consultation meetings and the decisions arising from them.
Feedback: Keep stakeholders informed of the actions taken in response to their input.

V. Review and Update

This policy shall be reviewed every two years in light of international accreditation requirements and developments in the external environment.