STINT, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, was set up in 1994 by an act of the Swedish Parliament. Its mission is to promote internationalization of Swedish higher education and research. The Foundation offers a range of funding and scholarship programmes in support of strategic internationalization at higher education institutions. It is also an actor with competence and knowledge relating to international academic collaboration. STINT's aims are to: - enhance the competitiveness of higher education institutions; - assist Swedish higher education institutions in developing into attractive scholarly environments for Swedish and foreign researchers, teaching staff and students; - stimulate change through new or alternative means of international collaboration. STINT regards international contacts and real experience of working in foreign academia as a natural and necessary part of research and higher education.