Academic freedom: what do our university communities owe society?

As part of the Academic Freedom Week*, a high-level international discussion featuring university presidents and global leaders:

• Michael Ignatieff, Writer, historian, professor and former politician
• Sergei Guriev, Provost and Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, Sciences Po
• Silvia Giorguli, Sociologist, President of El Colegio de México
• Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of the Witwatersrand.

Moderator: Vanessa Scherrer, Vice President for International Affairs at Sciences Po.

*#ScPoAcademicFreedom

*ACADEMIC FREEDOM WEEK

All around the world, there are efforts to curtail the freedom to teach, study and conduct research. The threat may come from political and economic authorities, from the evolution of public opinion or from stakeholders within universities themselves.

As we continue to champion the cause of our colleague Fariba Adelkhah, from 14 to 16 September, Sciences Po will be hosting a week dedicated to examining all aspects of academic freedom. A series of round table discussions will bring together students, researchers, academics and university presidents to explore a variety of perspectives on the issue.

Is there a limit to the kinds of views that can or should be expressed within a university? What models can be used to bring ideas into debate on a university campus? How can we help and support academics and researchers working in countries where academic freedom is threatened? Are all sources of research funding admissible? How should we respond to demands for “safe spaces”, which shield students from any kind of hostile view? Does the use of trigger warnings to flag up sensitive texts and topics hinder the transmission of knowledge? How can NGOs help to defend academic freedom?

See detailed programme