Student exchange

Universities and university colleges' responsibilities for students in general, including students on exchange stays abroad, are regulated through the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Academic Supervision Regulations (in Norwegian only). According to the Security Act, state universities and university colleges are responsible for addressing information security, including during exchange stays. The institutions are required to have contingency plans that are up to date at all times, as described in Styringsdokument for arbeidet med sikkerhet og beredskap i Kunnskapsdepartementets sektor ('Governing document for the work on security and emergency preparedness in the Ministry of Education and Research's sector' – in Norwegian only).

What do we know about students' experience of ethical and security challenges during exchange stays?

According to the NUPI report Challenging Knowledge Cooperation (in Norwegian only), the institutions have little knowledge of students' experiences from their stays abroad. At the same time, some respondents in the study express concern for the students.

How can higher education institutions strengthen the security framework for student exchanges?

• Include students on stays abroad in contingency plans. Has potential security challenges relating to gender, skin colour, sexual orientation or vulnerable minorities been considered in connection with stays abroad?
• Ensure data protection when transferring personal data to third countries (GDPR).
• Establish reporting procedures for incidents that challenge personal safety, information security or academic values.
  • Can procedures for submitting incident reports be incorporated into existing structures with regard to responsibility for follow-up and risk management (contract managers, people with academic responsibility etc.)?
  • How should notification be systematised and followed up at the institutional level (responsibility, follow-up, privacy, etc.)?
• Clarify what contact points are available at the host institution abroad.
• Encourage students to register on UD's travel app 'Reiseklar'.
• Encourage students to take out insurance and to consider contact with and/or membership in the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA).

How can academic freedom be ensured for students?

Academic freedom must be ensured for all students and employees at Norwegian institutions, both in the context of international cooperation and otherwise. All students and employees must know what academic freedom entails. In its report Academic freedom of expression, the Kierulf Committee has developed a proposal for a declaration of academic freedom of expression and ground rules for free speech for the knowledge sector. Institutions should consider whether they have good systems in place to help students who find that their academic freedom is threatened or under pressure.

Proposed assessments and procedures for the institutions' management and administration

• Inform students about academic freedom, prerequisites for creating a good climate of expression and research ethics principles. Include students in relevant training programmes.
• Establish a clear contact point at the institution where students can turn for help and support if they find themselves under pressure or surveillance.

Tools and resources for student exchanges

Knowledge about countries:

• Academic Freedom Index (AFI)
• Universal Human Rights Index
• Corruption perceptions index
• Economist Intelligence Unit

Accountability in international cooperation agreements in education:

• Accountability in international cooperation agreements (oslomet.no) (in Norwegian only)
• Preparing contracts and agreements | NMBU (in Norwegian only)