Collaboration with eyes wide open

How the University of Münster supports its researchers in their foreign contacts / Guest article by Katharina Steinberg. Dr. Katharina Steinberg © WWU - Peter Leßmann Li Wang wants to gain his doctorate at the University of Münster. He has excellent qualifications, has fantastic grades and can support himself financially. He speaks fluent English and passable German. This fictitious dream candidate is a citizen of the People's Republic of China, his scholarship is paid for by the Chinese state, his home university is on the list of universities with close links to the military, and the degree he is aiming for is Dr. rer. nat. So: is that the end of the dream? But what if Li Wang wants to obtain a Dr. phil.' And is it a different situation perhaps if the candidate is called Arian Baba and comes from Teheran? Or if it is Olga Petrowa from St. Petersburg in Russia? Might it be better if I leave my laptop at home if I travel to China or Russia? How do I handle the publication principle of "open access" if, quite possibly, "closed shop" is advisable? And will the drone that I want to use to explore some geological features in Sudan bring me into conflict with the Ministry of Foreign Trade or, possibly, even the secret services there? Nowadays, academics are faced with a veritable mountain of such questions, and often the difficulties already begin with the first steps taken to make contacts abroad.