Resources for responsible internationalisation

Responsible internationalisation: Strategy and need 

Responsible internationalisation means making the most of the opportunities that internationalisation offers, whilst taking into account the challenges arising from internationalisation and developments in the wider world.

A strategy to create conditions and to minimize risks

Responsible internationalisation means creating the conditions for international cooperation by:   

• Conducting overall assessments of the benefits, feasibility, impacts and potential risks of a collaboration both before it takes place and during the course of the collaboration.   
• Anchoring collaborations in KI's ethical and value principles.  

Need for increased awareness

Employees at KI need to be aware that international cooperation can involve potential risks in areas such as:   

• Information security, cybersecurity, intellectual property (IP), campus security, academic freedom, ethics and human rights.   
• Security risks for researchers and students on fieldwork.
• Risk of research results being used for military purposes (dual use/export control).   

Increased awareness and risk assessment facilitate international cooperation and build secure partnerships across national borders. 

Who is responsible for the risk assessment?   

 It is everyone’s responsibility to take potential risks into account in the context of their international activities, and one should always consider whether a risk assessment needs to be carried out. The outcome of a risk assessment has to be reported to the immediate supervisor for further action where required. Each manager is responsible for ensuring that a risk assessment is carried out within their own area of responsibility. 

• Individual collaborations: responsibility lies with the individual researcher/supervisor for collaboration in research and doctoral education.     
• Formalised collaborations: responsibility lies with the research team, the institution or the university.   

The Head of Department has the ultimate responsibility for the department’s international activities in research and must ensure that risk assessments are carried out in accordance with current guidelines. 

Support for risk assessment   

To make well-informed decisions on cooperation, it is essential to   

• Identify and document risks.   
• Make an overall assessment of opportunities and risks.   
• Establish a risk management plan if necessary.   

Risk assessment tool 

The tool is a support for those who need to carry out a risk assessment. The tool is divided into nine sections and guides you through a risk assessment with questions, supporting material and opportunity for reflection.  

Fill in the risk assessment tool and use it as a basis for further anchoring and for validation from your supervisor/manager.  

The areas covered by the checklist are:    

• Information about the project/collaboration (topic/purpose)
• Critical technology/materials and dual use   
• Funding and legal conditions   
• Country and organization of cooperation   
• Ethical aspects   
• Students and researchers involved   
• Conflict of interest   

Internal support in connection with risk assessments   

If support is required in connection with risk assessments, please contact for advice  

• first the departments’ administrative support teams 
• then the relevant units within KI’s professional services (GVS), such as: 
  • Security 
  • Export control 
  • IT security 
  • Legal 
  • Ethics 
  • Human resources 
  • KI’s brand
  • Specific countries: The international relations office can give support on specific countries 
• KIs Internal Network for responsible internationalisation regularly brings together these and other specific functions to jointly discuss issues raised within the organisation, where a range of expertise is required to provide a comprehensive advice. 
• KI’s scientific representatives can be contacted for advice, given their role as an accessible and independent point of contact who can provide guidance and advice on matters relating to responsible internationalisation and ethical considerations in external relations. 
• Both the Network for responsible internationalisation and the Scientific Representatives can escalate issues to the Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practice that where required can provide advisory opinions to support assessments and decisions.  
• KI’s Animal Welfare Body can be contacted for assistance with risk assessments for international collborations involving animal experiments abroad.  
• KI’s Safety Forum provides support for the heads of department in their decision making once issues have been escalated within their respective departments.  

When do we need to pay special attention?   

Caution is required when working with partners from countries that violate internationally recognized values and principles, such as human rights and the rule of law. The use of various indices, such as the Academic Freedom Index and the Corruption Perception Index, can help in risk assessment.   

Human rights and KI's social responsibility  

KI has a responsibility to promote human rights and shall not cooperate with parties directly involved in serious violations. However, not all cooperation in high-risk countries is problematic, as long as the cooperation does not lead to violations.