Working internationally is one of our most important tasks as a university. We have been working across borders since the Middle Ages – as so clearly shown by research from the Centre for Medieval Studies – and this work is particularly important now, with so many imminent challenges that must be addressed internationally.
At present, Stockholm University collaborates internationally on several fronts. Within the framework of the Stockholm Trio, our joint Brussels office increases SU’s visibility within the EU while also promoting our participation within Horizon Europe. Much can be developed here, especially in challenge-driven research and innovation. Our performance within the excellence pillar with the ERC has achieved the impressive result to be expected given our strong basic research profile.
We have a new application to the European Commission for CIVIS cooperation, within the framework of the European University Initiative. It is worth recalling that the most important task for CIVIS is to improve the quality of education.
Our two very successful strategic partnership agreements, with the University of Tokyo and the University of Helsinki, have just been renewed, and we are considering several more such agreements.
At the same time, international collaborations are facing major challenges. STINT’s Advisory Board has produced an insightful document, “Foresight 2030 – the role of academic internationalization in the next decade,” which will be presented shortly. In the light of ongoing crises and challenges – the climate-change crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, and not least the war in Ukraine and global unrest – it is particularly important for us, as a university, to consider how our actions through responsible international cooperation can continue to fulfill our social responsibilities even in an uncertain future.
This article is written by Astrid Söderbergh Widding, President of Stockholm University. It appears in the section ”Words from the University’s senior management team”, where different members take turns to write about topical issues. The section appears in every edition of News for staff which is distributed to the entirety of the University staff.