International work in Cambridge is guided by clear principles and an emerging strategy grounded in the University's academic strengths and value. These guide how we consider opportunity, context and risk, and help our engagement with partners and regions to be considered and well informed. Together our strategy and principles offer a foundation and approach that supports international activity across the University.
Cambridge's approach to international strategy
International engagement is a cornerstone of the University's mission to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. This commitment is exemplified through our strategic approach.
Principles of International Engagement
All international engagement at Cambridge is guided by the University’s Principles of International Engagement. These five principles provide a shared framework for carrying out international work. This supports the long-term sustainability of our community and its activities.
As Cambridge works across many regions and partners, we operate in a complex and changing international environment. The principles help the University approach international engagement in a safe, open, and responsible way, balancing opportunities with potential risks. They also support the development of appropriate guidance, tools, and training to help safeguard staff, students, and partners, and to support fair and responsible collaboration.
Principle 1: Protecting our people
The University has a duty of care to all its students, researchers and staff. As the international activities of the University develop in a complex and sometimes volatile global geopolitical environment, we will strengthen the planning, assessment and management of risks, including online risks, to students and researchers studying or working internationally or on internationally-relevant research.
Principle 2: Defending academic freedom, core values and highest professional standards
Our mission is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. We recruit globally because we want the best minds to come to Cambridge, and we value the richness of our internationally diverse community of staff, students, visitors and alumni. We encourage our researchers and students to go out into the world in search of knowledge, wherever it takes them.
Central to this pursuit is our commitment to academic freedom – the freedom to teach, research, learn and publish without political or other interference, and free from pressures, threats and intimidation – and to our core values of freedom of speech and expression and freedom from discrimination. We will seek to advocate these values in our international engagements, and are prepared to review, pause or withdraw from international engagements that threaten them.
Principle 3: Promoting and supporting a risk-literate academic culture
People are as critical to effective risk management as systems, processes and technologies. We will foster a culture of vigilance and awareness to minimise and mitigate risks of theft or hostile use of IP or security-sensitive data or technology. Our measures will reinforce the protection of IP to ensure it can be deployed and scaled through commercialisation. Building on our commitment to protect the safety and health of our staff and students, we will reinforce the resources available to researchers and when appropriate introduce mandatory training to enable them to better mitigate risks and protect themselves from intimidation (including any perceived restrictions on the fundamental right to academic freedom) or harm arising from their research.
Principle 4: Protecting the open flow of ideas and data
Openness is integral to our success as a world-leading, research intensive university and we will protect it against wrongful exploitation or interference by hostile actors. We will rigorously assess the nature and degree of risk that is present in international engagements and apply proportionate measures that mitigate those risks to an acceptable level.
Principle 5: Safeguarding funding autonomy
The diversity and transparency of our funding sources enable and safeguard our autonomy. We act ethically in accepting funding and we scrutinise all engagements with external parties that might give rise to significant public interest, pose a reputational risk and/or inhibit the safeguarding of our staff or students. We are open about and actively manage conflicts of interest in our international relationships. We will avoid concentrations of risk by strategically further expanding the global reach of our activities, including international student recruitment.
Governance and oversight
Alongside its international strategy and guiding principles, the University has groups in place to help guide and oversee international engagement. These groups support shared understanding, careful decision-making and alignment with wider University priorities.
International Strategy Committee
The International Strategy Committee oversees the University’s international strategy and international engagement. It is a joint committee of the General Board and Council. The Committee considers strategic direction and significant issues related to Cambridge’s international activity.
Find out more about the International Strategy Committee
International Engagement Advisory Working Group
The International Engagement Advisory Working Group supports international engagement across the University. It includes representatives from professional services, Colleges, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The group helps share expertise, develop guidance, consider risks, and provide advice on proposed international activity and large-scale initiatives. The group reports to the International Strategy Committee.
Find out more about the International Engagement Advisory Working Group
Academic-led working groups
Academic-led regional working groups bring together colleagues with expertise or ongoing activity in specific parts of the world. They provide a forum to share information, understand where Cambridge is active, and discuss areas of interest across the University. These groups are formed in response to academic interest and changing regional activity. They draw on research strengths and regional knowledge from across Cambridge. The groups are supported by the Global Engagement Office and report to the International Strategy Committee.