Foreign Compliance Policy

1. The purpose of our policy

This policy outlines Adelaide University’s principles for the management of our foreign compliance obligations.

It establishes governance-level responsibilities for identifying, assessing and managing risks associated with foreign arrangements, foreign influence, and foreign interference.

This policy provides authority to maintain the Foreign Compliance Review Procedure.

2. Who our policy applies to

2.1 Inclusions

This policy applies to:

• our staff
• our students (including prospective students and research students)
• our titleholders
• contractors, consultants and visiting academics
• any person acting on behalf of or in association with Adelaide University in a foreign engagement context.

2.2 Exclusions

This policy does not apply to:

• wholly domestic activities with no foreign entity, partner, country or citizen involved
• pre‑approved legacy arrangements that are unchanged since their last review, unless the Deputy Vice Chancellor – International and External Engagement directs that they be reassessed due to changes in legislation, government policy, or the University’s foreign compliance framework
• activities governed end‑to‑end by a separate specialist process (for example, Export Controls, Procurement, or Sanctions) where this policy would duplicate mandatory steps.

3. Our foreign compliance principles

3.1 We comply with relevant national security and foreign engagement laws. 

We will comply with all relevant Commonwealth legislation including the:

• Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020 (Cth)
• Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 (Cth)
• Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 (Cth)
• Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Cth)
• Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

3.2 We take a risk-based and proportionate approach

We assess each engagement based on its risk profile, applying levels of due diligence, review and monitoring that reflect the arrangement’s nature, scale, governance, technological focus and national security relevance.

3.3 We maintain robust governance, oversight and accountability

We assign clear roles and responsibilities, supported by governance committees and senior decision-making bodies, risk registers and escalation pathways to senior leadership.

3.4 We build awareness, capability and shared responsibility

We cultivate a culture of vigilance by providing guidance, training and support to our staff, students, titleholders and affiliates so they recognise, declare and manage foreign arrangements, influence and interference risks.

3.5 We monitor, report and continuously improve our foreign compliance capability

We maintain registers of foreign arrangements and affiliations, monitor compliance, investigate actual or suspected breaches, and refine our framework based on emerging threats, legislative change and sector guidance.

3.6 We safeguard academic freedom and institutional reputation and autonomy

We engage internationally in ways that preserve our capacity to determine our research, teaching and engagement agenda, and to strengthen our reputation, while meeting our legal and regulatory obligations.

4. Definitions used in our policy

Please refer to our Adelaide University glossary for a full list of our definitions.

Foreign arrangement means a written agreement, contract, understanding or undertaking between Adelaide University and a foreign entity, whether legally binding or not.

Foreign engagement means any interaction, understanding or relationship, written or unwritten, between Adelaide University (or its staff or students acting in that capacity) and any foreign organisation including foreign governments, a foreign government-linked entities, foreign universities, and foreign commercial companies; a foreign engagement may include a written arrangement that is also a Foreign Arrangements Scheme (FAS) arrangement.

Foreign influence means activities by, or on behalf of, foreign governments (and their entities) that seek to shape deliberations or decision-making. When conducted openly and transparently, such activity is a normal aspect of international relations and can contribute positively to public debate.

Foreign interference means activities carried out by, or on behalf of, a foreign actor that are coercive, clandestine, deceptive or corrupting and contrary to Australia’s sovereignty, values or national interests. Influence crosses the threshold into interference when it is covert, coercive, deceptive or corrupting.

Prospective student means a person who has contacted Adelaide University, or an agent representing Adelaide University, with the intent of becoming a student.

Student means a person enrolled in an enabling program, award or non-award coursework study, a research program, or a short course or microcredential at Adelaide University.

Titleholder means any person upon whom Adelaide University has conferred an honorary academic title.

5. How our policy is governed

This policy is categorised, approved and owned in line with the governance structure of Adelaide University and the offices and officers listed below.

6. Legislation and other documents related to our policy

Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations at Adelaide University.

7. History of changes

At the time of writing, Adelaide University’s organisational structure, position titles, and committee names have not been confirmed. Square brackets [ ] indicate placeholders for these details. Brackets are also used to identify policy elements that are subject to further decision-making or confirmation. These will be updated once final decisions are made.