Risk assessment
Prior to the start of a project, you should conduct a risk analysis and assessment. While some level of risk may be acceptable, the analysis can help evaluate measures in areas where there is a high risk of undesired events or consequences.
Background check of partners
While many partnerships are built on longstanding relationships, you should conduct a background check (also known as due diligence investigation) of all new partnering institutions and potential funding sources.
This kind of investigation examines whether the institution under consideration supports academic freedom, has sound financials, is free from political and military affiliations, and so forth.
More information is provided by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills: Partnership in the research field (hkdir.no).
Other relevant topics
In addition to risk assessment and background checks, we include a list of other relevant considerations you should go through at the start of a collaboration.
Academic freedom
It is crucial that academic staff at UiO and partner institutions have academic freedom to pursue research and education of high quality and integrity. The national guidelines for responsible international knowledge cooperation aim to safeguard academic freedom, even though not all partner countries offer the same level of freedom as Norway.
Academic freedom is explicitly stated in the Act relating to universities and university colleges §1-5 (in Norwegian), in UiO's strategy 2030 (fifth paragraph), and in UiO's ethical guidelines. These documents emphasise that “[a]ssessment of cooperation agreements shall include a review of academic freedom at the institution in question.”
At the beginning of projects, the international project team should discuss how to best uphold academic freedom in the context of each partner institution.
- More about academic freedom in international partnerships (hkdir.no)
- Academic Freedom Index: Overview of the level of academic freedom in different countries worldwIde (academic-freedom-index.net)
Equitable partnership
UiO has its own guidelines for north-south collaboration to ensure equitable partnerships with partners in the Global South. The national guidelines for responsible international knowledge collaboration also address what constitutes good research partnerships and educational partnerships.
Human rights
Avoid collaborating with partners involved in human rights abuses. You can look up information about potential business partners on the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre and check if they have been excluded by the Government Pension Fund.
Sustainable collaboration
When planning project activities, it is important to assess the project's impact on sustainability, climate and the environment. Pay particular attention to the sections concerning environmentally-friendly travel and the facilitation of digital collaboration and conferences in UiO's comprehensive climate and environment strategy.
Financial integrity
When entering into collaborative projects, it is advisable to discuss with partners the expected procedures for ensuring financial integrity. UiO strives for financial integrity in all procurement processes, and we have our own ethical guidelines for the purchase of goods and services. This includes avoiding corruption and nepotism. Our collaboration partners are also expected to have high standards of financial integrity in procurement, employee benefits, scholarships, etc.
Formal contracts
For research projects, a research contract is entered into for the specific project.. For collaborations in education, bilateral exchange agreements or a contract for a collaborative project are usually made. In some cases, there may also be a need for an overarching institutional agreement, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the institutional level. Consider whether there are any specific provisions that should be included in the agreement to ensure responsible cooperations.
More about agreements and programme management for studies (in Norwegian)