A Decade of Impact: A reflection and concrete lessons from Scholars at Risk Sweden

Karolina Catoni and Sarah Blichfeldt, University of Gothenburg, SAR Sweden steering committee

On March 9th, Scholars at Risk (SAR) Sweden marked its 10th anniversary, a milestone commemorating a decade of protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom alongside the 25th anniversary of the global SAR Network. The event convened over 100 participants, including long-standing and new SAR members, colleagues, and partners from Sweden and abroad. 

Bringing together universities across the country, SAR Sweden has grown into a vibrant network that strengthens national and global collaboration, and fosters engagement across higher education and civil society.

 Over the past decade, the network has developed gradually, growing from 12 to 32 member universities plus additional associated members. This progress has been driven by the commitment of individual institutions to strengthen their internal capacity to host scholars and build clearer procedures for preparedness.

Establishing sustainable structures and funding to support at-risk scholars

Looking back at the past decade, SAR Sweden has developed gradually, with much of the progress driven by the commitment and efforts of its member institutions. The introduction of a steering group in 2019 and the establishment of a national secretariat—initially supported by the Swedish Institute—provided critical coordination and continuity. To ensure longer-term sustainability, the network is planning the introduction of membership fees starting in 2026.

A central element of this growth has been the ability to mobilize external funding to co-fund scholar placements. Significant support has been secured from Sida for scholars from Afghanistan, as well as from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Formas, the Swedish Research Council, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. These schemes have been instrumental in translating institutional capacity into expanded opportunities for threatened academics.

Overall, SAR Sweden’s trajectory over the past decade demonstrates a transition from an informal network to a more structured and resilient organisation, while highlighting the need for continued efforts to address systemic challenges and strengthen support for scholars at risk.

Scholars find safety in Sweden and enrich the university space

SAR-supported scholars have played a meaningful role in diversifying academic environments. They often bring region-specific knowledge and lived experiences from politically constrained contexts that add depth to academic discussions in ways difficult to achieve otherwise. Beyond research, these scholars have become appreciated colleagues, participating in collaborative projects and developing courses linked to their expertise. Their language skills and cultural knowledge have proven particularly valuable in projects involving displaced populations or international partnerships. 

Taken together, these experiences suggest that SAR-supported scholars play a meaningful role not only in diversifying academic environments, but also in prompting reflection on how institutions engage with global knowledge production and academic freedom

The value of cross-sector and international collaboration

Collaboration has evolved both within and beyond the higher education sector. SAR Sweden has established solid cooperation with civil society organizations such as Amnesty, PEN, ICORN, and the UNESCO council. Cultivating cross-sector partnerships helps situate academic freedom within a broader societal context and open new opportunities for joint advocacy.

These experiences highlight the value of cross-sector partnerships, while also showing that such collaborations often evolve over time and require openness and continued exploration.

On an international level, SAR Sweden was established with inspiration from the SAR Norway model. This has evolved into a close Nordic collaboration including Finland and Denmark, focusing on shared funding and organizational structures. Currently, SAR Nordic is discussing a joint “Nordic Academic Freedom Safe Haven” initiative that could serve as an umbrella for future collaborative activities. Additionally, collaboration with SAR Italy between 2021 and 2024 resulted in joint training series for scholars focused on building careers in exile.

Concrete lessons from SAR Sweden

SAR Sweden’s trajectory offers several vital lessons for newly formed or developing national sections:

• Navigate the National Context: Many challenges are not institutional but structural, linked to national legislation, migration frameworks, and labor regulations. These barriers require institutions to act collectively and engage in dialogue with national authorities.
• Map the Funding Landscape Early: Sustainable support depends on combining institutional resources with external funding. It is essential to identify and build long-term relationships with national research councils and private foundations early on.
• Prioritize Dialogue Platforms: The network began as an informal forum for exchanging experiences, a function that remains vital. Creating spaces for mutual learning and trust-building is the necessary foundation for more formal structures.
• Utilize Benchmarking: During the establishment of its secretariat, SAR Sweden found great value in benchmarking with established sections in Ireland, Germany, Norway, and Italy.

SAR Sections are nationally or regionally organized groups of higher education institutions that coordinate participation in SAR activities. To date, SAR has helped launch seventeen SAR sections around the world.

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Looking ahead, SAR Sweden aims to develop a clearer national framework to create more predictable pathways for hosting, with a specific focus on early-career researchers and postdoctoral scholars. The network is exploring structured models for sequential placements across multiple institutions and the possibility of combining remote and physical fellowships. Finally, strengthening student engagement through initiatives like advocacy seminars remains a key priority to raise awareness of academic freedom across higher education.

Building an effective national section is a gradual process that depends on collective action, openness to collaboration, and a sustained focus on both structural challenges and practical solutions.

All photos courtesy of  Nils Pasi-Nävert.