Rektors internationaliseringsråd 25e september

Erasmus+ outside‑EU call yielded 13 applications; nine Erasmus grants were approved and four will be funded from the Vice‑Chancellor’s mobility fund for the MIRAI RnI Week, prioritising strategic, first‑time, and time‑critical mobilities; next round expected in April 2027. Communications will try to boost student/staff mobility via department meetings, internal channels, and stories on exchanges and guests. The RIR consultation on unified guest routines closes 28th September. The Council has started a joint discussion on the value of strategic partnerships at LTU - covering MIRAI, UArctic, UNIVERSEH, ACCESS (Sweden–Chile), SASUF, Swetaly, Erasmus.

Key topics:

• Erasmus outside EU – results and next steps: The first call drew 13 applications and will fund all of them (9 Erasmus grants after budget approval plus 4 from the Vice-Chancellor’s budget for the RnI week), prioritizing strategic-network trips, first-time applicants, and those who can’t wait for the next round. The next call opens after LTU learns its allocation (earliest Apr–May) from UHR; Kristina and AnnaCarin will finalise who handles partner contact, agreements, and payments, then inform awardees of required steps.
• Mobility culture and communications: LTU needs to normalise staff and student mobility by having heads of department endorse it in unit meetings, spotlighting individual stories (including guests), and favouring high‑reach channels (Instagram and digital screens) over low‑engagement ones (mass email). Communications will coordinate with International Office and departmental communicators on the matter.
• Unified process for international academic guests (consultation): The updated guest process is out for consultation (deadline Mon 28); only HLT has replied so far. Final responses must come from heads of department; a condensed summary will be shared, with the goal to support Responsible Internationalisation rather than block guests, recognising workload differences across units.
• Strategic network – MIRAI (Japan–Sweden): MIRAI’s primary value is researcher connectivity (especially for early‑career), which in Japan depends on strong senior‑to‑senior ties; changes are coming (e.g., Waseda University planning to leave and a push to include more regional Japanese universities), so LTU will use December’s MIRAI week to help shape the next phase.
• Strategic network – UArctic/Arctic Six: UArctic offers thematic research links and the North2North mobility scheme, while giving LTU a strong collective Arctic voice with real policy visibility; its biggest payoff is advocacy and awareness for Arctic issues across a very large university community.
• Strategic network – UNIVERSEH (European University Alliance): UNIVERSEH strengthens LTU’s space/Arctic profile via multidisciplinary education, short schools, staff weeks, and language tandems; mobility targets lagged due to the pandemic.
• Strategic network – ACCESS (Sweden–Chile): ACCESS is a bottom‑up, researcher‑driven platform enabling interdisciplinary collaborations; two LTU‑led research themes were accepted, and the network can unlock EU–Latin America relations. Practical mobility funding/logistics need to be clarified to fully convert interest into projects.
• Strategic network – SASUF and other geographies: SASUF seed funding catalyses collaboration with South Africa and other African countries by covering mobility and convening industry/organisations.
• Possible other networks/areas of interest: LTU will also deepen Baltic ties (e.g., a planned LTU–Lithuania online brokerage event, with potential to expand to Latvia/Estonia) and consider joining a Korea–Sweden research platform as cross‑departmental interest grows.
• Governance – when bottom‑up becomes strategic: This Council will be the forum to propose new networks for central support, set entry/exit criteria, and elevate initiatives from bottom‑up to strategic once interest spans multiple departments—ensuring resources go to partnerships that deliver clear institutional value.