On 17 November, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), one of ACA members, published a report titled Geopolitical tensions and international knowledge cooperation. A qualitative study (in Norwegian, including an English summary).  

Commissioned by the Norwegian government, the report is based on 43 in-depth qualitative interviews with academic staff who work in areas considered sensitive by Norwegian authorities,  who are involved in partnerships with countries in conflict, or subject to other security concerns. The study explores how various academic fields are impacted by the more tense geopolitical climate and how staff in particularly affected fields experience balancing academic freedom with security requirements. The aim of the study was to highlight specific challenges that the Norwegian academics face on the ground, following the publication of broader national guidelines for responsible international cooperation (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, December 2023). The study highlights the challenges facing not only technology and natural sciences, which are strategically important for economic and military capacities of different nations, but also the humanities and social sciences. It outlines several recommendations for the sector and responsible public bodies, such as: 

• Challenges linked to knowledge security are complex and require collaboration across different sectors, as well as information-sharing;
• Decisions on partnerships with academics from the concerned countries should be made on a case-by-case basis, together with the domestic academic communities in specific fields, based on the regular reassessment of the situation, and; 
• Academic staff should consider both academic values and security risks, with the support from the leadership and responsible administrative staff. 

Finally, the report highlights the importance of sharing experiences across Europe. ACA’s President and Deputy Head of HK-Dir, Gro Tjore, leads peer exchanges on the topic of responsible internationalisation and knowledge security in the higher education context through the ACA Thematic Peer Group (TPG) on Global Developments. The related discussions among ACA members will continue in 2025.