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On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), Oberon, in collaboration with Dialogic, is conducting a baseline measurement among universities and colleges. In this baseline measurement, we investigate the level of implementation of the National Guideline Knowledge Security and how institutions have responded to the minister's call to conduct a risk analysis of knowledge security or to update it. This baseline measurement fulfills the external audit on knowledge security that the minister has promised to the House of Representatives.
What is the reason for this?
Universities and colleges are increasingly operating on an international playing field. The proportion of foreign scientific personnel is growing, as is the number of publications involving scientists from universities in different countries. The percentage of foreign students at Dutch universities is also increasing. Internationalisation of higher education and research can contribute to addressing global issues and keep the Netherlands connected to rapid developments in other countries.
However, international collaborations can also bring risks and undesirable consequences. In the National Guideline Knowledge Security, these involve three types of risks: (1) unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology with negative consequences for our national security and Dutch innovation capacity, (2) covert influence and interference activities by state actors, and (3) ethical issues related to collaborations with individuals and institutions from countries that do not respect fundamental rights.
In recent years, there has been increasing attention in politics and society to these risks. This has led to a desire to develop more active policies on knowledge security.
What does our research involve?
In the baseline measurement, we investigate the level of implementation of the National Guideline Knowledge Security and how institutions have responded to the minister's call to conduct a risk analysis of knowledge security or to update it. To achieve this, we will distribute a questionnaire to universities and colleges. Additionally, we will conduct in-depth case studies at several universities and colleges. The information from these steps will be analysed to create sectoral views for universities and colleges. These sectoral views will be presented to the House of Representatives by OCW. It is expected that the sectoral view for universities will be available around summer, followed by the sectoral view for colleges in the autumn.
Interested in learning more about this research? Contact Max Kemman or Timon de Boer.