Handbook for Academic and Scientific Institutions: Improve Risk Management and Institutional Resilience in the face of Security Threats
Authors:   Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia, Palkova Karina , Palkova Aleksandra ,   Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia, Rakstins Vitālijs ,   Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia, Juļa Lidija ,   Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia, Filipenko Nataliia ,   National Aerospace University – “Kharkiv Aviation Institute” NAU “KhAI”, Ukraine, Lukashevych Serhii ,   National Aerospace University – “Kharkiv Aviation Institute” NAU “KhAI”, Ukraine, Andrieieva Olena ,   National Aerospace University – “Kharkiv Aviation Institute” NAU “KhAI”, Ukraine
Published: December 2024

Science and academia have long been shaped by international competition, providing nations with strategic advantages in economic, technological, and military domains. Today, as globalization intensifies, academic and research institutions face complex security challenges, including cyber threats, foreign interference, and hybrid warfare. These risks jeopardize intellectual property, research integrity, and institutional autonomy. To address these threats, institutions must implement robust internal risk management systems, minimize vulnerabilities in supply chains, and reduce dependency on foreign actors. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly adopting an entrepreneurial approach, balancing traditional academic missions with the need to generate revenue, enhance global competitiveness, and build resilience. This ""entrepreneurial university"" concept aligns economic goals with academic innovation, enabling HEIs to adapt to globalization while maintaining their reputations and operational independence. Transnational education, student mobility, and international collaborations highlight these trends, underscoring the need for strong governance, quality assurance, and cultural adaptability. This handbook, developed through Latvian-Ukrainian collaboration, offers a comprehensive framework to strengthen risk management and resilience in academic and research environments. It draws on Ukraine’s experiences in maintaining educational continuity during conflict, providing actionable insights for institutions globally. Key areas include: * Advanced Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating institution-specific risks. Institutional Resilience: Strengthening infrastructure, personnel, and research systems. Security and Continuity Planning: Ensuring crisis preparedness and operational continuity. Case Studies: Practical applications from real-world scenarios. The handbook emphasizes a proactive approach, urging institutions to establish governance structures, designate risk managers, and foster a security-conscious culture. By adopting these practices, academic and research institutions can safeguard their missions, protect intellectual assets, and build resilience against emerging challenges in a rapidly changing global landscape.
This project is funded by the Latvian–Ukrainian Joint Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project (2023) “Best Practice University: Transformation and Adaptation Process in Challenging Environment”, Project No LV_UA /2023/1.
Scientific Sectoral Group: Social Sciences.
Keywords: resilience; risk assessment; risk analysis; cybersecurity.