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.
Since internationalization is crucial for strengthening Sweden’s competitiveness, this approach emphasizes that international collaborations should be as open as possible and as secure as necessary. Responsible internationalization and the protection of Swedish education, research, and innovation are joint responsibilities of the institutions, research funders, and the government.
Risk awareness
At Stockholm University, the perspective is that responsible internationalization should be viewed broadly. In some cases, there is clarity through legislation or guidance from authorities such as the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), but in many situations, decisions must be made based on specific circumstances, the country in question, the research area, and the partner involved.
International collaborations in education, research, and innovation are fundamentally critical for being an active player on the global stage and for contributing to advancing development. However, we need increased awareness of potential risks to make well-informed decisions.
Defining boundaries
One of the biggest challenges is defining the principles and boundaries for deciding when it is appropriate to terminate all collaborations with a particular country. For example, the limit for cooperation with Russia was drawn at the invasion of Ukraine. How should we approach countries like Iran and China? Another challenge concerns export control, where the question is how to ensure research security without restricting academic freedom. It is also important to consider exit strategies to have a thoughtful approach when deciding to end various collaborations. The university's ethical responsibility in international partnerships also requires careful consideration. Should we demand higher standards of human rights in partner countries? For instance, can we send students to a country like Uganda, which has introduced the death penalty for homosexuality?
Guidance and support
For guidance and support in these matters, an internal guide has been developed by the Research Support Office and International Office at Stockholm University titled "Research and Studies Abroad – Guidelines on Ethics and Risk Management."
Research and Studies Abroad – "Guidance on Ethics and Risk Management" (in English) Pdf, 306.3 kB.
The CASI project
Stockholm University is part of the CASI project, which is a collaboration for joint analysis of the conditions for international academic cooperation in a changing geopolitical world. The project is run in collaboration with Lund University, Karolinska Institutet, the Royal Institute of Technology, the University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University. The starting point is that global changes have made international academic cooperation more complex.
CASI-project (on Lund University's website) (in Swedish)
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.