Responsible internationalisation

Linnaeus University has extensive collaboration in education and research with partners from all over the world. Today's geopolitical changes make collaborations more complex, and this places higher demands on higher education institutions to evaluate collaborations and any risks. Through a more responsible approach, we can ensure that our international collaborations continue to promote academic freedom, global development, and respect for human rights.

The following information has been taken from the University's guidelines for responsible internationalisation.

Guidelines for responsible internationalisation at Linnaeus University

Linnaeus University has developed operational guidelines on responsible internationalisation in international collaborations.

In international cooperation, its opportunities need to be assessed against its possible risks. The guidelines clarify which aspects Linnaeus University needs to take into account in international collaborations. The guidelines are therefore a support for all employees and managers who initiate or deepen international collaborations.

The national guidelines highlight five areas that should be taken into account in international collaborations:

The Swedish context
The prerequisites for your own operations
The foreign context
Knowledge of the partner
The design of the collaboration itself

The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) has developed a checklist as a guide to promote responsible internationalisation in our international collaborations.

The indicators are not exhaustive, there may be other relevant aspects to consider. The indicators can also be used in dialogue with a potential international partner.

Guidelines (in Swedish)

Riktlinjer för ansvarsfull internationalisering 2025_slutlig.pdf

Basic principles

Linnaeus University has a number of basic principles that form the basis for the work on responsible internationalisation at the university. Linnaeus University bases its definition of responsible internationalisation on the basis of the national investigations:

"Responsible internationalisation encompasses the aspects that a national actor in higher education, research and innovation needs to take into account in order to responsibly establish, nurture and follow up a relationship with one or more actors in other countries" (Responsible internationalisation, Interim report of a government assignment, Report 2024:1, page 17).

Responsible internationalisation encompasses several dimensions of international cooperation. These are ethics, research ethics, academic freedom, sustainability, fairness, transparency, risk awareness and safety. It also includes issues relating to export control and measures to prevent technology or research from being used in a way that is contrary to Swedish or international rules and values.

Follow Sweden's and the EU's advice and instructions

A central part of Linnaeus University's approach is to follow the advice and instructions of Swedish authorities as well as the European Union's recommendations and regulations. This ensures that the University's international collaborations take place in accordance with applicable legislation, sanctions and values.

International collaborations must be safeguarded

The concept of international cooperation encompasses all forms of internationalisation initiatives and activities in higher education, research and innovation – including international recruitment.

For Linnaeus University, this means that responsible internationalisation must be an integrated approach in, among other things, formal collaborations with foreign universities and organisations, research collaborations, recruitment of staff and students, international visits and issues relating to security.

Risk and security awareness must be present in all collaborations

There needs to be a security awareness at all levels at Linnaeus University, from individual employees to management. Prior to international activities, employees at Linnaeus University must make well-founded risk assessments where the opportunities are weighed against potential security risks. What is worthy of protection varies, which makes it necessary to reconsider collaborations if necessary.

As open as possible and as secure as necessary

It is a joint responsibility between universities, research funders and the government to protect Swedish education, research and innovation from unwanted influence, improper exploitation or security risks. Openness is a basic principle of academic collaboration, and must be balanced against the need for security. Responsible internationalisation means that Linnaeus University should be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary.

At Linnaeus University, all employees are responsible for the collaborations they are part of. Each manager is responsible for ensuring that risk management is carried out within their respective areas of responsibility.

Distribution of responsibilities and support with risk assessment

Formalized collaborations: Responsibility for risk assessment lies with the division/department/faculty. If necessary, there is the possibility of support in evaluation and risk assessment.
Individual collaborations: The responsibility for risk assessment lies with the individual researcher.

Support for risk assessment can be provided by the support services:

Formalized and individual collaborations: Contact the Office of Student Affairs for support in the risk assessment.
International visits: The receiving department/faculty is responsible for the guests who have been invited by the department/faculty. For university-wide visits linked to agreements, embassies or the like, the Office of Student Affairs is responsible.
Recruitment of employees: HR supports in the recruitment processes.
Recruitment of students: The Office of Student Affairs is responsible for recruiting international students.
Student mobility: Office of Student Affairs is responsible for the processes of exchange studies.
Outgoing employees: The responsibility for risk assessment lies with each manager, and the employee also has a responsibility. Support is available in the administration depending on the issue. Contact the Student Affairs Office for questions related to Erasmus and contact the Human Resources Office for questions regarding business travel. For questions relating to information and personal security, there is the Security Office.

Support group for complex matters in responsible internationalisation

To support managers in handling difficult matters in the field of internationalisation, there is a support group for complex matters in the field of responsible internationalisation (SKÄ-AINT). The task of the group is to provide recommendations and support in assessments and to assist the activities in particularly difficult trade-offs.

The Head of the Security Department or the Head of the Office of Student Affairs convenes the functions needed for each case.

Related information

Internal resources

To the Staff page: For researchers
To the staff page: Research ethics
Export Control - Managing Dual-Use Items (PDA) : To the Staff Page: Export Control
Security Awareness Film: 7 minutes on Information Security | lnu.se

External resources

SUHF: Global Responsible Engagement Checklist

Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Ministry for Foreign Affairs' travel information

European resources

European Union – Tackling R&I foreign interference
EU Sanctions Map
UK Guidance for academia (Saims to support the integrity of the system of international research collaboration)
EU countries' travel recommendations
The European Parliament's 2020 Declaration on Protecting Academic Freedom (see the website The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Observatory Magna Charta Universitatum (The signatory universities, including Lnu, are affiliated to the organization through their commitment to the principles of the Magna Charta Universitatum)

Other organisations with a focus on democracy and human rights

Scholars at Risk (An international network to support and defend the principles of academic freedom and human rights for researchers around the world. Lnu has been a member since 2016. Read more at Employees). Every year, they publish a Free to Think report that reports attacks on higher education.
Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch is an economically and politically independent international human rights organization.)
Freedom House (Freedom House is an independent organization with the stated goal of contributing to the spread of political freedom and democracy worldwide as a politically independent research institute.
Academic Freedom Index (Provides an overview of the state of academic freedom around the world.)
World Justice project Rule of Law (Anindependent, multidisciplinary organization working to promote the rule of law worldwide.)
Since 1995, Transparency International has published an annual Corruption Perception Index in which countries are ranked according to "their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion polls." This is generally defined as "abuse of public power for private benefit.)
UN report from 2020 on academic freedom (From David Keye, UN Special Rapporteur "on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.")
Watch the presentation "Freedom of Opinion and Expression and Academic Freedom" on YouTube

UniPID Ethical guidelines for responsible academic partnerships in Global South.
Courses that provide support for field studies in a conflict zone: 4 Day Course Security Awareness First Aid (SAFA) HEAT for Researchers Training ; Protection against risks in conflict zones | Folke Bernadotte Academy

Other

List of countries that the United States considers to be financing terrorism 
Chinese Defence Universities Tracker – ASPI (China Defence Universities Tracker is a database of Chinese institutions engaged in military or security-related science and technological research. It was created by ASPI's International Cyber Policy Centre)