Webinar: From awareness to capacity – Organising responsible internationalisation at higher education institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to both manage the risks of and seize the opportunities presented by international research collaborations. However, most HEIs are still building their ability to identify risks and have not yet developed the full capacity to address them. This webinar explores practical implications of this issue, drawing on current research and institutional experience from Sweden and Canada.

In many parts of the world, HEIs are at present building capacity focused on the identification, management, and mitigation of risks in international research collaborations. However, the ability to recognise risks is insufficient – HEIs also need the capacity to take a balanced approach to managing such risks. Both resources and a shift in institutional thinking are required.

There are several concrete challenges. How should responsibility be allocated internally between researchers, administrative staff, and leadership? How can HEIs move beyond information campaigns to give researchers and other staff the practical tools needed to recognise and manage risks? How can HEIs avoid taking the easier route of foregoing international collaboration entirely? Which roles do governments play in mapping risks and supporting HEIs? How can we ensure that the structures put in place strengthen researchers’ confidence in their own ability to navigate complex issues, instead of creating a paralysing sense of uncertainty where the uncertainty itself becomes a reason to withdraw from international collaboration?

Dr Tommy Shih examines these issues from current research perspectives, drawing on the work done as part of the RISEC project at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Mr Akshay Singh contributes practical experience of organising research security efforts at the University of British Columbia.

Programme:

• Introduction, Dr Andreas Göthenberg, ED, STINT
• On STINT’s efforts to promote responsible internationalisation, Mr Albin Gaunt, Policy Manager, STINT
• Presentation
  • Research perspectives on responsible internationalisation, Dr Tommy Shih, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
  • Responsible internationalisation in practice at the University of British Columbia, Mr Akshay Singh, UBC
• Questions and discussion

Welcome!