Aristotle’s expression ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ is widely used to emphasise the importance of synergy and partnership. This notion could be seen as central to medical education in a modern and globalised world, as it has become increasingly apparent that collective action between medical schools, universities, hospitals, and other organisations, is critical to achieving impactful outcomes in health and education around the world. ‘Co-operation’ and ‘collaboration’ are becoming familiar bywords in the many discussions about global medical education development which increasingly explore how the mechanics of powerful partnerships might influence the future of global development. Over the last decade, I have worked within a wide range of international partnerships in medical education, spanning countries and continents, across the undergraduate-postgraduate-CPD spectrum, working with students and staff, while utilising a variety of partnership models. Here, I will examine what I have observed, experienced and learned through this time.