Responsible Internationalisation
The geopolitical changes of recent years have placed new demands on how Swedish universities approach international collaborations and partnerships. To safeguard Swedish interests, knowledge, and technology, an increased awareness of risks is required among universities and colleges, state research funders, and government agencies.
International collaboration in education, research, and innovation is crucial to Sweden’s competitiveness and the advancement of knowledge. At the same time, a changing geopolitical landscape places increasing demands on universities to identify and manage security-related risks. The guiding principle is that international collaborations should be conducted as openly as possible and as securely as necessary.
National Guidelines
To strengthen the work of higher education institutions, the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) presented national guidelines for responsible internationalisation in 2026. These guidelines aim to support universities in conducting international collaborations responsibly, safeguarding academic freedom and openness while strengthening the protection of research, knowledge, and technology. The Swedish Research Council is also responsible for establishing a national support function in this area.
Key Challenges
Responsible internationalisation involves navigating several complex considerations. These include assessing collaborations with partners in countries where security-related or human rights risks may exist, addressing issues related to research security and export controls, and considering universities’ ethical responsibilities in international cooperation. The objective is to enable international exchange without compromising security, integrity, or academic values.
Stockholm University’s Internal Organisation
To strengthen its work on responsible internationalisation, Stockholm University has established an internal organisation responsible for coordination, support, and guidance. A working group has been appointed with representatives from the International Office, the Property Management Office, the Human Resources Office, the Legal Secretariat, and the Research and Collaboration Support Office. The work is overseen by a steering group consisting of the heads of the relevant divisions.
The organisation’s mandate is to develop local guidelines, strengthen risk awareness, and provide support to university operations in matters relating to international collaboration, research security, export controls, and ethical considerations. The aim is to ensure a consistent and well-informed approach to international activities while safeguarding academic freedom and international cooperation.
As part of this work, dialogues are conducted at the departmental level to identify discipline-specific challenges and needs. The working group also provides support and advice through targeted departmental visits and awareness-raising initiatives.
The Head of Department or Division is responsible for decisions regarding collaborations. In particularly challenging cases, decisions may need to be escalated to the Deans and the University Management Group. The support function, consisting of the coordinator, working group, and steering group, provides advice and support but cannot decide whether collaborations may or should be established.
Guidance for Responsible Internationalisation (2026) (Swedish only) docx, 147.2 kB.
Research and Studies Abroad
Research and studies conducted abroad require careful assessment of safety risks and ethical considerations. A dedicated guidance document has therefore been developed for this purpose.
Guidance for Research and Studies Abroad (2023) docx, 95.1 kB.
The CASI project
Stockholm University participates in CASI (Cooperation for Academic Security and Internationalisation), a collaborative initiative involving several Swedish universities aimed at strengthening higher education institutions’ capacity to address challenges associated with international academic cooperation in a changing geopolitical context.
The project serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, environmental scanning, and joint analysis of issues related to research security, academic freedom, and responsible internationalisation. Through webinars and other collaborative activities, CASI contributes to the development of knowledge and good practices for international cooperation in education and research.
The initiative is based on the ambition to safeguard international openness and academic exchange while ensuring that risks related to security, undue influence, and the protection of research results are managed in a systematic and responsible manner.
Read more here (in Swedish): CASI-projektet (Lunds universitets webbplats)
In September 2023, Stockholm University hosted the CASI webinar "What Responsibility Do Swedish Universities Have in Globally Upholding Principles of Democracy and Human Rights," where a range of interesting speakers were invited.
STINT – The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
A key actor in Sweden’s efforts to promote responsible internationalisation is STINT (The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education). STINT works to strengthen the international engagement of Swedish higher education institutions through funding, knowledge development, and strategic support. In recent years, the foundation has paid particular attention to issues related to responsible internationalisation and has published guidance and analyses on how universities can balance international cooperation with security, ethical, and geopolitical considerations.
STINT emphasises that responsible internationalisation is not about restricting international collaboration, but rather about creating the conditions for well-informed decision-making in which opportunities and risks are carefully weighed.
National and International Resources
Additional guidance is available through, among others, the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) and its work on internationalisation, the European Commission’s initiatives on research security, and national initiatives in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. Together, these efforts contribute to the development of shared principles and good practices for international cooperation in higher education and research.
Further reading
- The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions:
Internationalisering – hur arbetar vi strategiskt och ansvarsfullt? (in Swedish) - The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education: Responsible Internationalisation
- Government of the Netherlands: Knowledge Security
- German Science and Humanities Council: National Platform for Research Security
- European Comission: Research Security
- U.S National Science Foundation: Research security at NFS: Why does it matter?