Academic freedom is under assault around the world. Academics and students are being killed, injured, detained and disappeared in a pattern of disturbing increases in state repression.
Academic freedom will be defined in law. It will keep universities busy with compliance, but the main outcome is more symbolic: the government can say it has stood up for free speech.
Ontario’s recent order-in-council adopting the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism has been lauded by some. However, critics fear that it could be used to curtail criticism of the Israeli government.
The new Japanese prime minister, Yoshihide Suga’s rejection of six scientists nominated for an advisory panel has raised concerns over academic freedom.
It’s all in the details: the wide-ranging powers hinge on the yet-to-be-defined ‘institutional autonomy’ of foreign partners that enter into agreements with Australian public universities.
The campaign for ‘free speech on campus’ mimics US and UK tactics of using a manufactured crisis to further the goal of increasing conservative political influence in universities.
In a world where students can attend any university from their living rooms, universities need a compelling answer to the question: “Why should students come here?”
Professor Deborah Terry AO speaks of the importance of university expertise, academic freedom, university collaborations with business and international education.
Indonesian policymaking is predominantly informed by research with poor theoretical engagement, with no strong tradition of peer review and with legal threats to academic freedom.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University