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On 11 March 2025, Finland released a set of recommendations (in Finnish) for responsible international cooperation, developed by a working group established by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The recommendations emphasise openness, reciprocity, and risk management in international cooperation within higher education and research. They frame responsible internationalisation as a commitment to a higher education and research sector that is both international and responsible, aiming to safeguard academic freedom, while ensuring that such cooperation aligns with democratic values and ethical principles.
The recommendations seek to increase awareness among institutions and organisations regarding responsible international cooperation and risk management. They outline six overarching areas, several of which are complemented by concrete actions for organisations such as higher education institutions, agencies and other entities. Some of the recommended actions include:
The recommendations recognise that risk-taking is often an inherent necessity in international cooperation, stressing the importance of proactive risk management and clear response measures over risk avoidance. Each organisation is responsible for its international cooperation and activities while upholding academic freedom and respecting the autonomy of Finnish higher education institutions.
Meanwhile, related developments have taken place in Sweden. An interim report, jointly produced by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) (ACA member), with the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova), was already published in April 2024, tackling how to promote responsible internationalisation in higher education, research and innovation (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, April 2024). Building on this work, the same authorities have recently taken the next step, proposing the creation of a national support function to implement the guidelines.
Expected to launch this year, the support function will serve as a colleborative platform, bringing together representatives from various authorities. Its aim will be to assist higher education institutions and research funders in strengthening their ability to make well-informed decisions regarding risks and opportunities in international collaboration. Its primary activities will include information sharing, providing training, and establishing platforms for the exchange of experiences. In practice, researchers are encouraged to seek guidance from their university’s support organisation, which may refer particularly complex matters to the national support function for further support.
Additional remarks from the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), ACA member, on the recent developments in Finland:
EDUFI recognises that identifying risks and acting proactively requires enhanced expertise, making competence-building essential for anticipating challenges. National dialogue and peer learning with European and Nordic partners, particularly within ACA and through collaboration with Norway and Sweden, have been especially valuable in this work. EDUFI is actively working on the themes outlined in the recommendations. The heightened risk levels in international cooperation have been recently examined and addressed in EDUFI’s funding programmes for higher education. Guidance for applicants and funding requirements have been updated for the 2025 application rounds, with their effectiveness to be monitored and refined based on feedback.
The strengthening of ethical principles, as referenced in the recommendations, is considered by EDUFI a key aspect of responsible international cooperation. Nationally developed ethical guidelines, such as those for cooperation with the Global South, education export (in Finnish), and student recruitment, provide important frameworks for EDUFI’s work.
Looking ahead, EDUFI identifies the need to extend risk assessments beyond funding programmes to include visitor activities, international partnerships, and other operations where security considerations may arise. In addition, while EDUFI recognises high value of international and Nordic cooperation—evidenced by Finnish HEIs being guided to resources such as Norway’s HK-dir information package—there is a need to develop national-level knowledge and advisory support in the long run.
Read more about Finland’s developments: press release from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (in English, Finnish and Swedish)
Read more about Sweden’s developments: