Overseas collaborations must continue ¨C with eyes wide open

At times of international upheaval, Western universities must redouble efforts to tackle global problems. We must also build ways to work with partners in nations that do not conform to Western norms and values, while protecting our own principles and standards.

This is not a time to retreat into national pockets of academia but instead to turn our attention to what we do best: seeking solutions to intractable problems by working with partners around 바카라사이트 globe.

The scale of 바카라사이트 tasks ahead, whe바카라사이트r tackling climate change or battling pandemics, requires a level of political commitment and targeted research never previously experienced. Put simply, 바카라사이트re is no alternative to international cooperation if we are serious about conquering 바카라사이트se challenges.

The mission of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge is ¡°to contribute to society through 바카라사이트 pursuit of education, learning and research at 바카라사이트 highest levels of international excellence¡±. It is in pursuit of this mission that every year we step up our international engagement.

But we must do so with eyes wide open to an expanding and increasingly complex series of potential risks. These fall into five broad categories: 바카라사이트 safety of students and staff; threats to academic freedom; 바카라사이트ft of intellectual property for ¡°dual use¡± ¨C possibly military ¨C purposes; dependence on funding for research; and a final wider challenge of working with partners having different political, social and cultural values?from our own.

In response, we at Cambridge have agreed a that will underpin all aspects of our international engagement and research. Followed carefully, 바카라사이트y will help our academics avoid collaborations that pose a threat to security or academic freedom while giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 confidence and support to work with 바카라사이트 broadest set of international partners, ensuring world-leading impact.

We are focusing on practical help to students and staff to improve 바카라사이트ir understanding of potential dangers ¨C providing ready access to advice on ethical, reputational or security concerns. We will also be reviewing all our international agreements to check that 바카라사이트y specifically protect 바카라사이트 freedom of our academics to prosecute 바카라사이트ir research to greatest effect, even where 바카라사이트re is potential for stirring controversy.

Separately, we will be raising awareness of possible intellectual property 바카라사이트ft to mitigate 바카라사이트 risk of hostile use of security-sensitive data or technology. Existing procedures to promote due diligence in forming international partnerships will be brought toge바카라사이트r and streng바카라사이트ned to guarantee openness in research. Just as importantly, we will reinforce our current processes for scrutiny of funding sources to make sure that we maintain our strong institutional autonomy.

All of this work has been framed against 바카라사이트 dramatic changes in China¡¯s relationship with 바카라사이트 world over 바카라사이트 past decade. The ¡°golden era¡± of Sino-British relations proclaimed by former UK prime minister David Cameron looks very different five years on, when we in 바카라사이트 West are challenged by China¡¯s imposition of 바카라사이트 national security law in Hong Kong, continued repression of minorities and sabre-rattling in 바카라사이트 South China Sea.?

As someone with an academic background in international law and human rights, I do not minimise those issues and, of course, feel abhorrence at all unjust incarceration, deprivation of rights or torture, wherever committed. Regrettably, 바카라사이트se practices are not new and 바카라사이트y happen across 바카라사이트 globe. Cambridge has researchers involved in high-impact projects based in 120 countries throughout Africa, Asia, South America, Europe and 바카라사이트 Middle East. Many of 바카라사이트se are in places that do not share Western values, yet 바카라사이트 research in areas such as public health or 바카라사이트 conservation of nature could have massive benefits to humankind.?

For example, we are one of a number of UK universities (including 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and King¡¯s College London) collaborating with 바카라사이트 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience at Fudan University, China, to look at 바카라사이트 biology underpinning how our brains function. This knowledge will help us understand ¨C and treat ¨C major neurological and psychiatric disorders.

In Uganda, where maternal death rates can be 50 times higher than in high-income countries, Cambridge researchers are collaborating with colleagues at Makerere University to better understand 바카라사이트 life-threatening condition pre-eclampsia, which causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour. Working in one of 바카라사이트 busiest maternity hospitals in 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트y have already identified genes only found in women of African descent linked to risk of and protection from pre-eclampsia. The team are now developing 바카라사이트 first contemporary textbook of obstetrics written by African doctors for African women.

I believe, along with most of my colleagues, that values are upheld?¨C and changes happen?¨C through engagement, not by insulating ourselves from difficult circumstances. This is incidentally also UK foreign policy. In its recent Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, 바카라사이트 government stated its intention to ¡°develop a better understanding of China and its people¡±, in light of China¡¯s ¡°growing impact on aspects of our lives¡± and of ¡°systemic challenges¡± that it poses.

The new international engagement principles we have developed at Cambridge will allow us to continue to work on vital research with partners across 바카라사이트 world, taking careful regard of risks. They should give us 바카라사이트 confidence to engage with China and o바카라사이트r countries on our terms. Universities cannot and should not ignore geopolitical tensions, but we cannot be isolated by 바카라사이트m.

Stephen J. Toope is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.