Photo: Communications Office
"Umeå University believes it is important to support and develop international cooperation within research and education. Furthermore, it is important that teachers, researchers and other members of staff are part of national and international networks. Environmental scanning will be an important element of our work at Umeå University, and staff must be encouraged and given the opportunity to participate and influence international forums and contexts."
(From the Internationalisation policy)
If Umeå University is to collaborate in international networks for education, research and collaborations, focus needs to lie on:
Long-term relationship building
Long-term relationship building is a way for developing projects, establishing procedures, and deepening collaborations. Long-term relationships generate the opportunity for exchanging experiences, and shared engagement provides inspiration for realising common goals.
The university is currently a member of several networks and collaboration projects that meet these criteria and work to create and maintain long-term relationships.
Read more about international cooperations on this page
Project support
Umeå University supports international cooperation within research and education in several ways. Various funding types are available for internationalisation projects. Help and support is also available for national and international applications.
It is possible to apply for support via the Research Support and Collaboration Office and via the faculties.
Support for research
Funding calls and announcements
Travel grants from the Wallenberg Foundations
Travel grants from the Kempe Foundations
Other good links to trend analysis, funding calls and announcements and project support:
The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
Swedish Institute
Supporting established research and education collaborations
It is important that good and clear support is available for both research and education collaborations at various levels at the university. For example, each department has a research coordinator, director of studies (education coordinator), programme coordinator, international contact and financial support function.
Research needs to be long-sighted. Umeå University supports established collaborations – a basis for conducting outstanding research.
Support is available to the university's researchers for all stages of the research process. Furthermore, Umeå University makes it easier for researchers to apply for external funding from national and international funding bodies for international collaborations. The university also uses direct government funding for research to benefit and develop internal collaborations.
Support for education
Support for doctoral studies
Support for research
Developing new research and education collaborations
The Vision for Umeå University states that motivation, courage and risk-taking are essential for knowledge breakthroughs. Developing new research collaborations is just one way of novel thinking and creating open-minded research. New research collaborations are supported and consideration is paid to new partners from both ethical and strategic perspectives.
The importance of intercultural skills and international perspectives cannot be emphasised enough as regards education collaborations, which can also serve as a career boost.
Responsible internationalisation involves mutual creation of values, academic freedom, transparency and integrity with room for reflection on ethics, as well as cultural, political and legal contexts.
Read more about trend analyses and strategic relationship building on the STINT (Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education) website
National and international networks and arenas
It is vital that Umeå University's researchers are actively involved in international networks and arenas for education, research, and policy-oriented projects. Examples include projects that may relate to greater issues such as the practical implication of the Bologna Process, what the Dublin Declaration involves, and how we work with the quality of education.
Researchers who participate in national and international deciding bodies and research councils contribute with knowledge that is significant for the global research arena, and are able to influence the conditions around international research. Being part of where decisions and policies that affect higher education are established is being part of shaping the international landscape of the national, European and global arena. Networks offer invaluable experience exchanges and perspectives.
Umeå University has applied for membership of the European Universities Initiative (EUI) – the EU's major education alliance. The collaboration involves mobility, research and innovation. Europe's new higher education sector is emerging.
Examples of organisations and networks where Umeå University could increase its presence and participation include:
- European University Association (EUA)
- The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQUA)
- European Association for International Education (EAIE)
- Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
- the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council
- The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
- European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education (ECA)
- European Universities' Network (SGroup).
Read more about the current international collaborations at Umeå University on Aurora.