Internationalising Danish research

Dear staff

I am a member of the Research Policy Committee of the Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and last week, this year's White Paper was presented with accompanying speeches and panel debates. In the White Paper, we have presented four central recommendations that are intended to strengthen the quality of the internationalisation of Danish research and education. The focus is no longer just on quantity, but on creating sustainable and inclusive international environments that contribute to both professional development and societal value.

1. A new quality-oriented approach to recruitment and educational development: We recommend that the development of strong international research and study environments be given greater priority rather than simply increasing the number of international students. This includes, among other things, the establishment of more high-profile English-language Master programmes across disciplines that can attract the most talented students globally.
2. A strengthened organisational and managerial effort: To ensure the successful integration of international researchers and students, it is proposed to expand the offer of Danish language instruction and improve the reception of foreign employees. At the same time, a framework must be created where international employees and students have a real opportunity to participate in positions of trust, management functions and social communities on an equal footing with their Danish colleagues.
3. Improved political framework conditions: At the political level, it is recommended to remove the SU ceiling for international students and to work purposefully to increase international awareness of Danish research environments. This should make Denmark more attractive as a research destination and strengthen the country's position in the global knowledge economy.
4. Internationalisation in a time of geopolitical crisis: Finally, we point to the need for a more nuanced approach to international cooperation in a time marked by geopolitical tensions. This requires that security considerations be adapted to the individual research fields, and that Denmark strategically focuses on recruiting international research talents who can contribute to the future development of society.

The theme of the White Paper was chosen before Donald Trump's re-election. I am very shocked by the major changes that are taking place in the United States right now, including the encroachments on academic freedom and financial sanctions against universities. This also had an impact on the debate at the annual meeting, where Minister of Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund opened the meeting with a clear reminder: Academic freedom is under pressure – not only in China, but also in the USA – and must not be taken for granted.

Egelund stressed that the answer to these challenges is not isolation, but strengthened international cooperation. The government wants more international students and stronger European research alliances. She referred to a recent meeting with European colleagues, where President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen declared: “Europe will always choose science.” Egelund will hold her to that promise.

Read the White Paper here.

Marianne Holmer, dean