Conferences & Workshops

Workshops

“Rethinking Academic Freedom in East African Universities”

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21-23 October 2008

The Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) and the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Network held a conference and workshop on academic freedom in Ethiopia, on October 21-23, 2008. The event took place at the Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa and was organized in partnership with the Forum for Social Studies (FSS), the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and the British Council. The workshop was supported by a grant from Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug). Faculty members and researchers from thirteen countries participated in the event, including representatives from Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

The conference opened with a brief examination of the recognized international and regional standards and instruments relating to academic freedom, including the UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel and the Dar Es Salaam and Kampala Declarations. Case studies on academic freedom in the participants’ countries then followed. The presentations offered real insights into the concerns faced by academics in the region. A broad range of concerns were voiced, including ideological pressure, lack of accountability, gender disparity and the need for greater social responsibility among academics.

On the second day, participants were invited to take part in a workshop on academic freedom issues. Materials were circulated in advance and included a model framework for analyzing academic freedom questions, hypothetical case studies and proposals for follow-up activities. The workshop aimed to build solidarity among scholars and to encourage participants to develop practical proposals for responding to the challenges outlined in the case studies. The materials were well received by the participants and the discussions helped to demonstrate how participants from different countries were experiencing similar problems and might develop joint responses.

The final day of the conference was dedicated to follow-up activities. In-depth discussions culminated in the formation of an African Academic Freedom Network made up, in its initial stages, of representatives of the various countries represented. The network is pledged to broaden its base and to follow-up on the discussions and proposals for future activities. The latter included joint research projects and further workshops in the region, tailored to meet the different needs of university staff, student unions and university leaders. The network members also pledged to work with NEAR and SAR to develop new tools and to engage in advocacy campaigns, including lobbying UNESCO to keep academic freedom firmly on the agenda of the World Conference on Higher Education in 2009. Read a full summary report of the proceedings here.

Report on academic freedom workshop
Amman, Jordan, March 31, 2008

Scholars at Risk (SAR) and the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) held the first in a series of workshops on academic freedom in Amman, Jordan on March 31st, 2008. The workshop took place on the second day of a three day event organized in partnership with the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) and hosted by the United Nations University (UNU) in Amman under the patronage of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan. The workshop was supported by a grant from Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug). Faculty and researchers from twenty-two universities (both public and private) across seventeen countries participated in the event. Representatives were present from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Palestine, the Republic of Yemen, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

The first day featured a series of case studies on academic freedom in the participants’ countries. Presentations highlighted the contemporary challenges that face academics and educational institutions, including issues of accountability, transparency, corruption and ideological pressure.

The second day was dedicated to the academic freedom workshop organized by SAR-NEAR. The workshop was the first of a series to be held in various regions of the world and aimed to build solidarity among scholars and institutions and to mobilize participants to develop practical proposals for responding to the challenges outlined in the previous day’s proceedings. Workshop materials—including a framework document, hypothetical case studies and proposals for follow-up activities—were circulated in advance of the event and participants discussed. Participants critiqued current SAR-NEAR and other initiatives and outlined new approaches reflecting unique local and regional perspectives. The discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by academics in the region and the coping mechanisms that individuals and institutions have developed in response to these challenges. Participant feedback indicated that the workshop served as a unique discussion forum and helped to demonstrate how participants experiencing similar problems might develop joint responses.

The event concluded with a day-long meeting establishing a new Arab Society for Academic Freedom (ASAF). The Society’s mission is to promote academic freedom and university autonomy across the region. The participants elected a 25-member Council and an 11-member Executive Committee. In addition, the participants issued a ‘Final Statement and Recommendations summarizing their discussions and outlining issues for future research and follow-up activities. SAR-NEAR look forward to contributing to AAAF activities in the region and to ASAF’s representing the region in SAR-NEAR’s global activities.

Read a copy of the ASAF recommendations here.

Conferences & Workshops

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