Göttingen International

Responsible Internationalisation

The aim of this guideline is to support students, research and teaching staff, administrative personnel, and guests in acting responsibly and safely when operating in an international context.

International cooperation is a key principle of research and teaching, even a prerequisite for excellent scientific performance and a first-class university education that enables its graduates to act with responsibility in their scientific activities, as well as in all fields of cultural, political and economic life. Many members and affiliates of the University of Göttingen engage in collaborations, exchanges as well as small and large research and teaching projects with outstanding universities and research institutions worldwide, and warmly welcome numerous guests from abroad.

International cooperation also comes with its own set of risks and challenges, ranging from personal safety and data security to concerns about structural, regulatory, political, and also ethical and cultural conditions in partner countries that are not, or only partially, compatible with conditions in Germany.

The contents of this guideline address these risks and challenges by providing information on:

  • where university members, affiliates and guests are personally accountable and liable in their international activities,

  • possible risks and guidance for acting safely in an international context,

  • the different cooperation formats for working with international partners,

  • "green travel" and sustainability in internationalisation.

    • The guideline is based on three basic principles.

    In their activities, German Higher Education Institutions must operate on the foundation of the German Basic Law, the European Convention on Human Rights, EU data protection policy, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the United Nations declaration of human rights. Students, researchers, teaching staff and administrative personnell involved in international projects must also observe the applicable law of their cooperation partner's country, and they must (if applicable) act in accordance with guidelines of the respective funding bodies.


Questions can be addressed to: international@uni-goettingen.de