Strategic priorities for a global university

In order to implement Karolinska Institutet's goal of being a global university, according to KI's strategy, an activity plan for internationalisation with four priority areas has been adopted for the next two years.

KI's internationalisation strategy is an integral part of KI's overall strategy, Strategy 2030. The activity plan for internationalisation (2025–2026), which has been adopted by the president, concretises and further develops KI's strategic objectives for internationalisation in accordance with the strategic choice that KI should be a global university.

The internationalisation efforts at KI shall be responsible, global, visible and integrated.

The activity plan comprises four priority areas with 15 associated activities. For more details and context, please refer to the complete document.

Icons for four priority areas for internationalisation
Icons for four priority areas for internationalisation Photo: N/A

Priority activities for 2025

Of the 15 identified activities in the activity plan, the Internationalisation Board has prioritised the following eight for 2025.

  • Further develop processes and support for risk assessment of international cooperation
  • Develop contacts with non-EU countries that have received or are in the process of receiving Association Agreements for participation in Horizon Europe
  • Strengthen the internationalisation of higher education and enrich the learning and research experiences of students, teachers and staff by fostering cooperation and capacity building within and beyond Europe, including through Erasmus+ and other external funding.
  • Identify sustainable forms of cooperation and alternative funding opportunities for strategically important international collaborations in low- and middle-income countries
  • Establish a reference group with representation from actors outside academia in order to develop a more strategic perspective on internationalisation
  • Promote cross-cultural exchange and future career paths through international alumni work
  • Offer courses in Swedish for non-Swedish speaking staff and students
  • Create opportunities for the exchange of experiences between departments/departmental groups/educational programmes regarding how the welcoming and inclusion of international students and researchers can be further strengthened.

All areas and activities

  • Initiatives for KI's employees to increase knowledge and awareness of responsible internationalisation.
  • Further develop processes and support for a risk assessment of international cooperation.
  • Further develop the preparatory support for students and staff for international mobility

EU

  • Strengthening KI's opportunities for policy influence, including through active participation in the European University Hospital Alliance, the Stockholm Trio and the European University NeurotechEU.
  • Develop contacts with non-EU countries that have received or are in the process of receiving association agreements for participation in Horizon Europe.
  • Strengthen the internationalisation of higher education and enrich the learning and research experiences of students, teachers and staff by promoting cooperation and capacity building within and beyond Europe through, e.g. ERASMUS+ and other external funding.

African continent

  • Identify sustainable forms of cooperation and alternative funding opportunities for strategically important international collaborations in low- and middle-income countries.

Strategic collaboration

  • Establish a reference group with representation from actors outside academia in order to develop a more strategic perspective on internationalisation.
  • Promote cross-cultural exchange and future career paths through international alumni work.
  • Ensure that information on KI's website is available in Swedish and English.
  • Contribute to strengthening the competence of KI's researchers to digitally position their research for increased international impact.
  • Offer Swedish courses for both basic skills and for skills development purposes for foreign-born non-Swedish -speaking employees and students at KI.
  • Create opportunities for the exchange of experiences between departments/departmental groups/educational programmes regarding how the welcoming and inclusion of international students and researchers can be further strengthened.
  • Offer courses/seminars in intercultural competence for students and staff.
  • Review calls for collaboration funding [the internationalisation board’s calls] to clarify what the funds can be used for. 

Previous projects to strengthen KI as a global university

Based on Strategy 2030, several projects/assignments have been initiated and implemented that are about strengthening KI as a global university:

  • A strategic action plan for increased international visibility has been developed
  • A policy for strategic partnerships with international higher education institutions, companies and organisations has been adopted by the president
  • The Centre for Sustainable Health (CESH) in collaboration with Makerere University has been established as part of KI's goal to be a leader in the work to achieve the global sustainability goal that relates to global health and well-being.
  • KI participates in the European University, NeurotechEU. In 2023, NeurotechEU was granted an additional four years of funding from the European Commission.
  • The range of attractive second-cycle programmes available to international students has been expanded. In the autumn of 2022, two new master's programmes started, a programme in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology and a two-year programme in nutrition (previously 1 year). In the autumn of 2024, a master's programme in biostatistics and data science started, which is given in collaboration with KTH and SU.
  • Projects to develop international mobility (in Swedish) have been implemented. A decision has been made to conduct a pilot study for the introduction of the Certificate of Global Competence (previously know as Certificate of International Merits CIM).
  • A language policy has been developed to guide all employees at Karolinska Institutet on general language issues and language use.

Kontakt

Johanna Ackemar

Coordinator Internationalisation Board
+46852486789

Documents