SAR & Amnesty launch new academic freedom course on International Day of Education 2026
Scholars at Risk and Amnesty International have released a new, free, 90-minute course titled “Dangerous” Questions, Why Academic Freedom Matters. Created with input from academic and legal experts, this self-paced course explores what academic freedom means, how it connects to human rights and higher education values, and why it matters for scholars, students, and society. You’ll leave with the tools to defend academic freedom in your classroom, institution, or community and to stand up for education spaces that are free, inclusive, and open to all.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Define academic freedom and core higher education values
- Outline why core higher education values are important
- Describe how academic freedom is protected by human rights
- Explain the differences between academic freedom and other rights, like freedom of expression and protest
- Analyze some of the challenges and threats to academic freedom and higher education communities around the world
- Develop strategies to raise awareness, to respond to threats, and to defend academic freedom in your community.
SAR and Amnesty International launched the course on January 24th, UN International Day of Education, in recognition of the vital role of education in safeguarding human rights and democratic values. At a time when attacks on scholars, universities, and knowledge itself are growing, all of us are called to do more to defend our freedom to think, question, and share ideas.
Sign up for the course today, and share it with your networks. If you have any questions or comments, please write to scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu.
