Telling the partnerships story
Northeastern’s partnerships are the mechanism through which our mission moves.
Industry, government, entrepreneurial, and community relationships don’t just support the university’s work—they shape it. And Northeastern shapes theirs. Communicating that promise well means knowing the full range of what’s possible and choosing the frame that speaks to the right audience at the right moment.
Our official partnerships hub
Point external partners, faculty developing collaborations, and anyone seeking partnership entry points to the university’s official partnerships site first. And take some time to familiarize yourself with what it communicates.
- The full range of partnership types
- Sector-specific pathways for industry, government, entrepreneurs, colleges and universities, and community organizations
- Value propositions and offerings tailored by partner goal
- Case spotlights with real partner examples across sectors
- A direct contact form for inbound partnership inquiries
How to talk about partnerships
Lead with the partner’s challenge, not the university’s capabilities.
The partnerships site opens with “You have a challenge. Let’s find a solution.” That’s the right frame everywhere. The most effective partnerships messaging starts with what an organization is trying to accomplish—not with a list of what Northeastern offers. Capabilities enter as the answer to a challenge.
Explore the full range.
“Partnership” is a useful shorthand—but the word undersells the breadth. A single organization might engage Northeastern through co-op hiring, a sponsored research project, and an employee development program simultaneously. Look for opportunities to surface that depth, especially in proposals, stewardship materials, and case studies.
Position Northeastern as a co-creator, not a vendor.
Northeastern doesn’t deliver solutions—it builds them with partners. Language like co-develop, co-design, and collaborate reflects the actual relationship. Use provide, deliver, and offer strategically, to avoid casting Northeastern as a service provider.
Connect the pillars.
Partnerships don’t sit apart from Northeastern’s other strengths—they activate them. A strong partnership story often draws on experiential learning (student talent in the field), research (faculty expertise applied), and global reach (presence across communities and markets). Make those connections visible.
Name Northeastern as a living lab for AI talent and solutions.
Organizations working on AI—whether building, deploying, or navigating it—will find in Northeastern a partner designed for that pace. Our integrated model of experiential learning and translational research makes us one of the most effective environments for co-developing both the people and the tools that AI work requires. Make this connection explicit when it’s relevant: don’t bury it in a generic “innovation” frame.
Let proof do the work.
Concrete outcomes—students placed, research translated, programs built, problems solved—are more persuasive than superlatives. The explorer’s instinct here is to ask: what changed because of this partnership? Lead with the answer.
Invite curiosity, not just confidence.
Partnerships messaging doesn’t have to close every door. Sometimes the most effective frame is the open question: What could we build together? What’s the problem you haven’t been able to solve yet? Messaging that sparks that kind of curiosity often resonates more than messaging that only asserts.
Language guidance
| Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
| co-develop, co-create, collaborate | Provide, deliver, offer except when reporting outcomes |
| employer partner, co-op employer partner, research partner, community partner, government partner | workforce development |
| workforce development | job training which is too narrow |
| student talent, student engagement | labor, resources |
| AI talent, AI solutions, human intelligence | tech solutions which is too generic |
| challenge, problem, goal | need, gap which imply deficiency |
Audience-specific guidance
Industry partners
Lead with the value exchange—access to talent, co-created solutions, de-risked R&D, and a pipeline that runs from co-op through PhD. Northeastern’s depth of relationship means the process is smooth and the results compound over time.
Government partners
Emphasize research expertise and relevant areas of leadership—physical AI, networks, brain health, cybersecurity. Highlight co-location options and the flexibility of Northeastern’s global footprint for teams that need distributed presence.
Entrepreneurs and startups
Frame Northeastern’s ecosystem as a place to connect with scholars, mentors, and investors—and with students who will help build what’s next. The experiential model means students show up ready to contribute from day one.
Colleges and universities
Lead with complementary strengths and the opportunity to tackle larger problems together than either institution could alone. Consortia, joint programs, and research collaborations are all on the table.
Community and nonprofit partners
Emphasize commitment and presence. Northeastern’s campuses are embedded in communities—not just located in them. Frame engagement as shared investment—talent, expertise, innovation—in the health, readiness, and economic vitality of the places we call home.
Faculty developing collaborations
Point to the partnerships hub for entry. Emphasize that Northeastern’s partnerships infrastructure exists to support faculty in making connections—it’s not a gatekeeping function. Co-op, experiential PhD, sponsored research, and industry residencies are all pathways for faculty to deepen industry relationships.
Related resources
Experiential learning toolkit
Messaging, data, and logo guidance for co-op employer partnerships specifically
Research messaging
Framing for Northeastern’s translational research model and research partnership opportunities
Joint marks and logo guidance
Required before producing any co-branded material with existing partners; obtain Partnerships team approval ahead of use