4.1. Existing risks
The risks listed below exist not only in international cooperations but also at the national level. It is not international participation that poses a greater risk (risks exist regardless of nationality and cooperation location) but rather the increased complexity that exists due to various demands and framework conditions in international collaborations (e.g., less well-known legal frameworks, multilateral relationship structures and participation, and unpredictable situational events in foreign cultural and academic spaces).
All groups of people at Universität Hamburg face risks, such as personal security, the misuse of research data, and reputational damage. Risks can vary depending on the cooperation partner, institution, and country.
The Department of International Affairs will be happy to advise you with regard to cooperation partners and the region or culture in which the cooperation is to occur. Feel free to contact the staff; the regional expertise and faculty contacts are marked accordingly on the Department of International Affairs website.
Concrete risks in international contexts
- knowledge leakage or academic espionage
- application and further processing of research results for military or industrial military purposes or to develop technologies that can be used for military offensive purposes or contribute to the violation of human rights
- loss and misuse of sensitive personal data or sensitive university data; loss and misuse of research data
- cyberattacks involving data theft, extortion, and ransomware
- blackmail of individuals using compromising sensitive knowledge or resulting dependencies
- appropriation of cooperations and projects for ideological purposes
- loss of reputation on the part of the individual or institution
- diplomatic sanctions (e.g., denial of entry or exit from the country)
- individual fines or imprisonment
- physical injury
- compensation payments if confidential information is knowingly shared or published
Risks in teaching and study formats [under development].
- ideologization of knowledge and in the sharing of teaching content
- appropriation of projects and formats for ideological purposes
- topics deemed noncontroversial in Germany but taboo or forbidden in other cultures and countries lack of reflection when addressing such topics and thus potentially posing a risk to students, depending on the context
Note: Information on risks and risk minimization in the context of teaching and study formats, especially for students, will be added soon.
Questions and consultations
The Department of International Affairs is available to answer your questions and provide consultations. Contact us regarding regional expertise or faculty assignment. Both are marked accordingly on the Department of International Affairs website so that you can quickly find the right contact person.