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Proposal for a national support function for responsible internationalisation
If Sweden is to be engage internationally in research and innovation in a responsible and secure way, knowledge of how to do this needs to increase throughout the system. The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR), the Swedish Research Council, and Vinnova propose that the Government establishes a national support function to contribute to this end.
The Swedish Council for Higher Education, the Swedish Research Council, and Vinnova have been mandated by the Government to promote the work on responsible internationalisation within higher education, research, and innovation. We have now submitted our final report.
The starting point for the work has been that international collaboration should be characterised by openness, at the same time as there is a need to protect our national and academic values, as well as our knowledge and technology. Our assessment is that difficult deliberations and decisions associated with this can be facilitated through a national support function.
The overarching goal for such a support function is to ensure all actors can act responsibly on issues relating to internationalisation. The support function shall contribute to increasing knowledge, awareness, and ability throughout the entire research and innovation system: among higher education institutions, public agencies, research institutions, incubators, and the business sector.
The support function shall also coordinate and strengthen Sweden’s ability to handle issues relating to responsible internationalisation in higher education, research, and innovation, without assuming the independent responsibility that rests with higher education institutions, public agencies, and other actors for these issues within their own operations.
“Global collaborations in education, research, and innovation are a precondition for continued development of new knowledge, utilisation, and innovation. At the same time, today’s global challenges place new demands on protecting national interests, handling sensitive knowledge, and creating secure preconditions for international collaborations. The support function that we are now proposing will contribute to this important work,” says Katarina Bjelke, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.
About the mandate on the Government’s web (in Swedish) External link.
National guidelines for responsible internationalisation
In April 2024, the agencies submitted an interim report proposing a system
for responsible internationalisation, with national guidelines.
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