- Changing your password
- How long do I have to complete the training?
- How often will I be required to complete the training?
- I have an issue with accessing the training, who do I contact?
- Why do I need to take this course?
- How long will the course take to complete?
- I would like to take the training; how do I get access to it?
- What are the association's top strategic priorities for the next 1 to 3 years?
- Will HERSA be developing resources and guidance to support colleagues involved in the wider international agenda, such as education and recruitment, including risks associated with transnational education?
- How does HERSA plan to manage and maintain its member resources and to coordinate or facilitate online training on topical areas of interest to the community, such as U.S. export control practice?
- How is HERSA engaging with UK Government departments (such as NPSA, ECJU, DSIT) to help keep members updated on UK Gov developments and resources in the area of research security? e.g. the MI5 and cyber security services briefing to over 70 UK universities and launch of the Academic Interference Reporting Route.
- Are you able to provide more information on the HERSA secretariat, the roles, and how individuals can participate?
- How does HERSA position itself within the policy landscape? Specifically, to what extent does HERSA act as a policy taker or a policy maker?
- As the sector shifts from export control to the broader concept of research security, should universities reconsider how they brand and communicate this area of work?
- How can we enhance collaboration and information‑sharing across the sector, recognising that institutions are independent organisations but also part of a wider national security effort that relies on shared learning and effective ways of working?
Changing your password
Go to the training page and click on the reset your password button at the bottom of the page. If you are registered on the service a temporary password will be emailed to you.
Login using this password and follow the instructions to set a new password for the service.
How long do I have to complete the training?
Each higher education institution will allocate a duration for completion of the training, please check with your Institutional Lead to see how long they have allocated for completion. Institutional Leads can send reminders to delegates who need to complete the training.
How often will I be required to complete the training?
Your institution will determine how frequently they require you to complete the training, we recommend an annual cycle to keep up awareness of the requirements.
I have an issue with accessing the training, who do I contact?
Your institutional lead(s) are responsible for initial support. If required, they can escalate to internal IT support for device issues or onto HEECA support for portal or content issues.
Why do I need to take this course?
It is important for your role to have an awareness of strategic export controls, why they are necessary and the consequences of non-compliance.
How long will the course take to complete?
For those unfamiliar with the topic, we estimate between 60 - 90 minutes to complete the training and the assessment.
I would like to take the training; how do I get access to it?
If your university or research organisation is already a member, you can request an account through them. If your organisation would like to join us, please get in touch using our contact form.
What are the association's top strategic priorities for the next 1 to 3 years?
Our strategic priorities over the next one to three years build on the progress already made, while recognising that our agenda must remain dynamic and responsive to the needs of the community. Guided by our new HERSA tagline ‘member informed, future focused’, we will continue to shape our work around sector priorities and emerging developments.
A core focus is the continued development of a collaborative design philosophy. This means convening subject‑matter experts from government, academia, funding bodies and industry to co‑deliver substantive outputs that support the sector. We will also keep expanding our role in facilitating a ‘one‑to‑many’ model of delivery, helping to generate national peer networks and create efficiencies and cost savings for participating stakeholders.
Strengthening international peer‑to‑peer collaboration is another priority. By sharing best practice and building familiarity with approaches taken across the landscape, we aim to reduce barriers to secure international engagement and support the wider economic and research ambitions of the sector.
Finally, ensuring parity of access remains central to our mission. We will continue to offer freely accessible activities and materials wherever possible, enabling consistent access to resources and supporting personal and professional development across the community.
HERSA has driven the professionalisation of economic and research security roles across universities and research organisations for the past five years, and is recognised by international peer organisations as a benchmark standard in this space.
Will HERSA be developing resources and guidance to support colleagues involved in the wider international agenda, such as education and recruitment, including risks associated with transnational education?
Yes. We are aware that NPSA and other partners are looking closely at this area and we intend to collaborate with them as their work develops. With the publication of the new Internationalisation Strategy, where transnational education features prominently, it is important that we support our members in understanding how to engage with this agenda safely and responsibly.
Our aim is to provide guidance that draws not only on policy and regulatory expectations, but also on practical lessons learned across the sector. We want to ensure that resources are shaped by real experience rather than theory alone, and we will look to members to contribute insights that can strengthen the collective understanding of risk in international activity.
How does HERSA plan to manage and maintain its member resources and to coordinate or facilitate online training on topical areas of interest to the community, such as U.S. export control practice?
As a voluntary sector body, HERSA relies on the time, expertise and goodwill of the secretariat and the wider community to develop, maintain and enhance member resources. Our approach is therefore collaborative by design. We encourage members to share materials they have developed within their own institutions where they feel these may be useful to the wider sector, and we are always keen to showcase practical tools and approaches that others can benefit from.
Where we identify sustained interest or a clear gap in support across the community, we work to develop appropriate guidance, resources or training. This often includes engaging with relevant Government departments and complementary industry partners to ensure that any material we produce is accurate, practical and aligned with wider expectations. Reflecting current demand, we are preparing a half‑day workshop on U.S. export controls in partnership with EGADD, scheduled for July 2026, with registration and further details to follow in the coming months.
How is HERSA engaging with UK Government departments (such as NPSA, ECJU, DSIT) to help keep members updated on UK Gov developments and resources in the area of research security? e.g. the MI5 and cyber security services briefing to over 70 UK universities and launch of the Academic Interference Reporting Route.
HERSA maintains regular engagement with UK Government departments and agencies, including those listed, to ensure members remain informed about developments in the space. These relationships allow us to monitor emerging initiatives, policy updates and new resources, signposting relevant information to the sector in a timely way. As an example, the updates highlighted in the question were featured in our monthly newsletter in February 2026, and all previous monthly newsletter updates continue to be available through the archive on our website.
Our established links also mean that these departments know to contact HERSA directly when they have updates to share or wish to engage with the community, using us as a route to reach the sector quickly and effectively.
Are you able to provide more information on the HERSA secretariat, the roles, and how individuals can participate?
More information about the HERSA secretariat, including biographies of current members, is available on the About Us page. The secretariat brings together individuals who support the sector through a range of activities, including developing guidance and resources, leading sub‑group initiatives, and maintaining constructive relationships with key stakeholders.
Membership of the secretariat and its governance arrangements, including the Terms of Reference and oversight structures, are reviewed periodically. At present, the secretariat is fully constituted and we are not seeking additional members.
There are, however, other ways to take a more active role in HERSA’s work. Individuals are welcome to support events, contribute to sector engagement and lobbying activity, or put themselves forward for future speaker opportunities. We encourage anyone interested in playing a part in HERSA’s wider programme to get in touch.
How does HERSA position itself within the policy landscape? Specifically, to what extent does HERSA act as a policy taker or a policy maker?
HERSA operates primarily as a sector body focused on practitioner‑level support. Much of our work involves interpreting government regulation and legislation and translating these into practical implications for the sector. We aim to bridge the gap between national policy and operational delivery by providing clarity, guidance and a channel for sharing good practice.
While we are not a policymaking organisation, we do contribute to the policy environment when appropriate. Through our engagement with government and other partners, we provide insight from practitioners across the sector to ensure their experiences, challenges, and priorities are understood and represented. In this way, we help inform policymakers and ensure the sector’s voice is heard.
As the sector shifts from export control to the broader concept of research security, should universities reconsider how they brand and communicate this area of work?
The sector has evolved quickly in this area. Several years ago, ‘export control’ was the primary legislative mechanism in scope and there were few wider frameworks or requirements. As a result, many university teams took on names aligned with executive, legal, or research functions, often using ‘export’ in their title.
Where an individual’s responsibilities remain focused solely on export control, that terminology may still be appropriate, however for teams whose work now spans the broader research security agenda, there may be value in considering whether existing titles accurately reflect the full breadth of their activity. As responsibilities expand, updating naming and branding can help ensure clarity, visibility and a better understanding of the role across the organisation.
How can we enhance collaboration and information‑sharing across the sector, recognising that institutions are independent organisations but also part of a wider national security effort that relies on shared learning and effective ways of working?
Collaboration and information‑sharing across the sector is a central priority for HERSA and we see it as an essential next step in strengthening the community’s collective capability. We recognise that this brings real challenges, including data protection requirements, institutional autonomy and commercial sensitivities. These considerations are important, but we do not believe they should prevent progress or deter institutions from engaging.
Some of the most effective examples of collaboration have emerged through existing peer networks, whether established through HERSA or developed informally when colleagues reach out to one another to discuss an issue they have encountered. These conversations often reveal shared challenges and differing experiences, which can be the starting point for more structured cooperation.
While we remain mindful of the complexities, HERSA is committed to fostering an environment where people feel able to share insights and work together constructively. We are always keen to hear from individuals who are willing to collaborate, exchange learning, and help develop a more connected community.
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