Policy for Internationalisation

The university’s internationalisation efforts are grounded in the following documents:

1. International frameworks, such as Agenda 2030 and the United Nation’s (UN’s) sustainable development goals
2. The European Union's overall goals and priority areas for higher education, with a focus on internationalisation and mobility (the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area)
3. National strategy for internationalisation – New world, new higher education institution (Prop. 2004/05:162) (Swedish only)
4. Higher Education Act Chapter 1 Section 54 – higher education institutions should, in their work, promote understanding of other countries and of international conditions (Swedish only)
5. Shared state fundamental values
6. University of Borås’s objectives and vision, Reg. 906-14

The University of Borås puts students' learning at the centre and prepares students to work professionally in a global society in Sweden and abroad. This means that the educational programmes develop students' ability to work in international environments and include an international perspective of the challenges described in the UN's sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the university's educational programmes (both on campus and distance) are characterised by internationalisation at home. The university promotes increased mobility and offers education, and has an educational environment, that attracts and welcomes international students and staff. The university's participation in international strategic networks benefits its development, including internationalisation at home and the exchange of students and staff.

International perspectives, strategic international collaborations, and international researcher mobility characterise the research conducted at the University of Borås and are fundamental to contributing to the UN's sustainable development goals. Collaboration with strategically selected international partners is important for research excellence, contributing to an increase in the external funding of research projects, and to co-written publications in international scientific journals.

The quality of the university's education and research, as well as its societal relevance, are strengthened by global, national, and local strategic collaboration. Academic freedom and democracy form the basis for all collaboration with the university.

University employees' international experiences are seen as a merit. By having the proper competence for their work, employees contribute to the university's international environment. The university's physical and digital environments are adapted to an international context and invite creative meetings between people.

The university management is responsible for strategic governance, planning, and follow-up of internationalisation, and for actively working with the university's students and employees to develop internationalisation internally and externally. The university administration provides professional support for the university's strategic internationalisation efforts.