Networks and partner universities

The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) is a collaboration led by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Kenya, and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa. CARTA's goal is to support the development of research environments and postgraduate education in Africa, with the aim of improving human health and living conditions. The consortium consists of universities and research institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as partners in Europe, Chile, Canada and the United States. The Sahlgrenska Academy is one of the partners and the School of Public Health and Community Medicine hosts the coordinating function of the Non-African Partners in CARTA.

Read more about CARTA

Inclusive Green Economy in Practice is a capacity development program for civil servants in East Africa on economic policy instruments for achieving a just green transition. It bridges the gap between research and policy to get evidence-based practices.

The program is led by Environment for Development (EfD) at the University of Gothenburg, and key partners are universities and other actors in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Read more about Inclusive Green Economy in Practice

The South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) is a collaboration project between Swedish and South African universities. The overall aim is to strengthen ties between South Africa and Sweden in research, education and innovation, with the UN's sustainability goals in focus. The project also extends beyond the academy, connecting researchers with funding agencies, industries, embassies, ministries and civil society organizations.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Sarah Blichfeldt, International Centre
• SASUF website

MIRAI is a collaboration between Swedish and Japanese universities aimed at contributing to the development of long-term research partnerships between the two countries. There is a clear focus on researchers at an early stage of their career.

The main activities within the collaboration include research- and innovation weeks, scientific seminars and workshops, shorter doctoral courses, and seed funding to support new promising collaboration projects between Japan and Sweden. The activities organized can be physical, in hybrid form, or virtual.

There have been two MIRAI projects previously, the first one running from 2017 to 2019 and the second, MIRAI 2.0, from 2020 to 2023. The participation of Swedish institutions in MIRAI 2.0 was coordinated by the University of Gothenburg.

MIRAI is now in its third phase, 2024-2026, with Umeå University as the Swedish coordinator. The third phase involves increased collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and a more challenge-driven approach to shared societal challenges linked to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following challenges are in focus:

• health and an ageing population
• climate change measures, risk and catastrophe management
• sustainable cities and communities
• material for energy transformation and storage

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: kristin.radesjo@gu.se
• MIRAI 2.0 website

University of Gothenburg is a member of the Nordic Centre Fudan University. This is a network between Nordic universities, the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies and Fudan University, which is one of the most prominent universities in China. The Nordic Centre serves as a platform for initiating and developing research and educational activities, conferences and workshops of mutual interest to Nordic and Chinese scholars and students.

The objective of the Nordic Centre is to foster mutual understanding between China and the Nordic countries by supporting cooperation between Nordic and Chinese teachers, researchers and students.

The centre is located on Fudan University´s campus. From January 2021, the University of Gothenburg will host the secretariat.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Linn Gabrielsson, International Centre
• Nordic Centre Fudan University website.

Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) is a Nordic research and service institute with an international mandate and a focus on social, cultural, political, economic and business transformations in modern Asia in their historical contexts.

NIAS is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers and aims to contribute to the development of Asian studies in the Nordic region.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg; Sarah Blichfeldt, International Centre.
• NIAS Website

Sweden-Korea Education, Research, and Innovation Collaboration, SKERIC, is a collaborative project between eight leading universities in Sweden and South Korea. The project targets emerging researchers, future academic leaders, and representatives of research-based start-ups and spin-offs. Each group will follow a tailored programme, exclusive for that group. One week per year, Future Laureates Societal Challenges Seminars are held where the groups meet in Korea (2024 & 2025) and Sweden (2026).

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Linn Gabrielsson, International Centre
• SKERIC Website

The EURAXESS is a pan-European initiative delivering information and support services to professional researchers regardless of their career stage. Backed by the European Union and its member states, it supports researcher mobility and career development, while enhancing scientific collaboration between Europe and the world. Welcome Services coordinates the EURAXESS Network Projects at the University of Gothenburg and is in charge of the Swedish EURAXESS portal, a central source of information about Sweden as a research nation.

More about EURAXESS 

The European University Association (EUA) has more than 800 higher education institution members in 48 European countries. The association supports and represents its members in the political debate at the EU level.

EUA provides opportunities for members to share best practices by participating in projects, events and other mutual-learning activities involving a wide range of universities. The association also provides members with opportunities to shape European policies and initiatives affecting higher education and research.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Karolina Catoni, International Centre
• EUA Website

EUTOPIA is a network of six universities in Europe with a joint and long-term vision of creating a strong alliance with free movement of students, researchers, teachers and other staff. The alliance has received funding from the European Commission’s prominent European Universities Initiative.

The University of Ljubljana heads the network. The University of Gothenburg has taken the lead on issues concerning research, knowledge and innovation.

Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Karin Jonson, International Centre

Read more about Eutopia

Inspireurope is a collaboration between ten partner organizations in Europe focused on providing support to researchers whose lives or careers are at risk due to discrimination, persecution or violence.
The partners organizations are establishing a platform to increase employment of researchers and increase the number of at risk-researchers who apply for external, and particularly European, research funding.
Inspireurope is coordinated by the National University of Ireland Maynooth. The University of Gothenburg is a partner in the project in the name of SAR-Sweden.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Karolina Catoni, International Centre
• Inspireurope website

The aim of the Nordic Association of University Administrators (NUAS) is to enhance contacts and to establish networks between the Nordic universities at all administrative levels. NUAS cooperates with the Nordic Council of Ministers, other organizations and authorities to promote the Nordic educational community.

Specialist seminars in different administrative sectors are regularly arranged by twelve planning groups within the association. Annual seminars for university directors are arranged on topical issues within the field of higher education.

The secretariat is located in Stockholm.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg; Karolina Catoni, International Centre
• NUAS Website

Nordlys is a university-wide network for exchange studies in the Nordic countries. Through the network, exchanges are made possible at 26 universities in Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Scholarships for outgoing students are currently financed by Nordplus funds. The network is interdisciplinary and enables exchange studies for students who wish to study courses outside their main subject area.

Read more about Nordlys on the Student Portal.

SGroup is a European network with global reach. The aim of the network is strengthened internationalization via benchmarking and joint projects.

Key activities include Think Tank Academy, a benchmarking initiative that facilitates the exchange of ideas and knowledge linked to cooperation with South America, China and Africa, and exchanges on supervision at postgraduate level. The Think Tank Academy has also developed a joint summer school in Shanghai, and a mobility funding scheme.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Sarah Blichfeldt, International Centre.
• SGroup Website

Swetaly University Collaboration is a project that aims to strengthen academic relations between Sweden and Italy in research and higher education. The project was launched in 2019 with more than 30 universities from Sweden and Italy expressing their will to participate. Two broad topics were chosen as starting points for the collaboration: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ageing. These topics pose challenges and possibilities to both of our societies.

Swetaly University Collaboration is coordinated by the University of Gothenburg and Örebro University in partnership.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Sarah Blichfeldt, International Centre

ELIA is a globally connected European network that provides a platform for exchange and development in higher arts education. It represents 260 members in 48 countries, across all art disciplines.

The University of Gothenburg is a member in ELIA through the Artistic Faculty.

Read more on the ELIA webpage

The European Marine Board (EMB) is a European think tank in marine science policy. It provides a platform to advance marine research and to bridge the gap between science and policy.

The University of Gothenburg is member of The European Marine Board through the Faculty of Science.

Webpage European Marine Board

ACCESS is a collaboration project between universities in Chile and Sweden. The aim is to establish relations between researchers, students and employees in the two countries, in order to discuss challenges that are common for both countries.

Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Karin Wallin, International Centre

SIREUS is a three-year collaboration project between the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce (SACC-USA) and twelve Swedish universities. The project will promote knowledge exchange in science, innovation and entrepreneurship and increase the mobility of students, trainees and researchers between Sweden and the USA.

To the SIREUS website

Environment for Development (EfD) is a global network of research centers established in 2007 with the purpose of increasing the use of environmental economics to reduce poverty and increase sustainability in the Global South.

Efd contributes to solving the world’s most pressing environment and development challenges through policy-relevant research, capacity development and policy engagement.

EfD Centers are now established in 15 countries around the world and the network is coordinated from a global hub at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg;  Gunnar Köhlin, Environment for Development
• Web site EfD
• EfD's website at gu.se

The purpose of the Erasmus+ SEA ASIA programme is to strengthen cooperation between the universities in the EU (Denmark, Portugal and Sweden) and Southeast Asia (Bangladesh, Laos and Vietnam) and strengthen the capacity of universities to carry out high-quality higher education in strategic environmental assessment (SEA).

Website for Erasmus SEA-ASIA

European Teacher Education Network, ETEN, has around 60 members in 20 countries.

The University of Gothenburg is a member through the Faculty of Education.

Webpage ETEN

International Association of Universities (IAU) is a UNESCO-based worldwide association composed of more than 650 institutions in some 130 countries. Its goal is to encourage cooperation among higher education institutions worldwide.

Pam Fredman, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg, was president of IAU 2016-2022.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg; Karolina Catoni, International Centre
• IAU website
• The University of Gothenburg, as part of the IAU, been asked to take a lead on Sustainable Development Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda. Read more about the SDG 8 initiative here.

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of institutions and individuals working to promote academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars worldwide. SAR offers direct assistance to academics facing threats to their lives and acts as a matchmaker between scholars and member institutions offering temporary positions to scholars.

The network is based in New York (US) and has over 500 members representing 40 countries.

Since March 2016 there is a Swedish section of Scholars at Risk, SAR-Sweden. The section is coordinated from the University of Gothenburg.

• Contact at the University of Gothenburg: Karolina Catoni, International Centre.
• Read more about Scholars at Risk

The SDG 8 Initiative

THE SDG 8 INITIATIVE is the University of Gothenburg´s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda. The aim is to achieve sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

Contact: Beata Berg Malmborg

The University of Gothenburg, as part of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and its Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Cluster, has been asked to take a lead specifically on SDG 8. Every goal has its lead university, resulting in a global network of universities coordinating different goals. 

Read more about the IAU HESD cluster on the IAU website.

The network SDSN Northern Europe is part of a global UN initiative to identify and fill knowledge gaps, provide high-quality education for sustainable development, and provide advice and solutions for the transformation to a sustainable society.

The University of Gothenburg is a member through Gothenburg Centre for Sustainble Development (GMV).

Webpage SDSN Nothern Europe