In the process of developing the conceptual framework for the COST Action on “Rising Nationalism, Shifting Geopolitics and the Future of European Higher Education/Research Openness,” we recognized the importance of considering the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the issues at hand. The framework is grounded in the understanding that the phenomena of nationalism, geopolitical shifts, and research openness cannot be fully understood without careful attention to the specific contexts in which they unfold. At the same time, by examining a few examples of case studies of nation-states with different political, social, and academic environments, we aim to highlight the ways in which these larger concepts interact with and are influenced by context-specific ‘variables'.

Central to our framework is the concept of context sensitivity, which plays a crucial role in understanding the interplay between nationalism, higher education, and research openness. Context sensitivity refers to the need to be aware of and responsive to the unique characteristics and variables of each nation-state setting when studying these phenomena.

In the diagram, beyond the context-sensitivity mentioned in the earlier paragraph, we focused on the OPEN Cost Action key components named as “International Engagement”, “Higher Education”, “Openness in Research” and “Nationalism” to be utilized in comparative and context sensitive research. Each of these components in the diagram and shared concepts in the intersections could be applied to country contexts depending on the aim of the research on higher education. Within the scope of “Higher Education System”, researchers can elaborate the historical development of higher education, the size, structure and management of the higher education system as well as the government's policies on higher education and financial mechanisms including research and development.