Network Reflections

“Women Academics Face a Double-Edged Sword:” Dr. Atsede Aregay on Ethiopian Higher Education

The recent conflict (starting in 2020, ceasefire signed in November 2022) has brought about a significant decrease in academic freedom and a further politicization of Ethiopian higher education institutions, particularly in the Tigray region. Many institutions have failed to remain

Network Reflection: The Program for Welcoming Ukrainian Scientists in Paraná State, Brazil

Paraná is a southern Brazilian state, home to 80% of the Ukrainian immigrants living in Brazil. Thus, it was not surprising that the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 touched deeply into the collective soul of the

Network Reflection: Royal Society of Canada on mobilizing to continue research

A young academy is an organization that brings together a nation’s top academics at the early- and mid-career stage. These academies are usually affiliated with a senior science society or academy, and their members are chosen on the basis of

“I felt liberated and empowered:” Majid Mgamis on the socio-political impact of the SAR Network

The annals of academic freedom have been fraught with challenges and restrictions, dating as far back as the trial of Socrates in ancient Greece and extending into modern times. Michel Foucault, a philosopher who notably wrote on power, famously posited

Network Reflection: SAR Greece and the “special responsibility to support academic freedom”

SAR Greece was officially launched on October 1, 2021 with four founding members: Aristotle University (AUTh), Ionian University, the University of the Aegean (UoA), and the University of Thessaly. Since its establishment SAR Greece has been growing fast; it now

Network Reflections: UiO on swift and flexible support for at-risk scholars

The University of Oslo (UiO) has been a member of Scholars at Risk (SAR) since 2001 and has received more than twenty scholars on one or two-year stays. Many countries and universities have calls for applications, where researchers at risk

Network Reflections: Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara)

Cara has been working since 1933 and SAR is a relative newcomer (!), but we cooperate very closely in many ways and I value our relationship very highly. SAR has achieved an enormous amount and it’s no exaggeration to say

Network Reflections: Growing support for at-risk scholars in SAR Flanders

In the autumn of 2021, five universities in Belgium’s northern region of Flanders decided to intensify their support of SAR’s activities. By December 10th, on International Human Rights Day 2021, we officially formed a SAR Flanders section. Since then, two

Network Reflections: “Courage, determination, dignity, and life-long friends” at the University of Agder, Norway

The University of Agder (UiA) has been a member of Scholars at Risk (SAR) since 2009 and was instrumental in the creation of a Norwegian section in 2011. In the past six years, Agder has supported nine scholars, and also

Network Reflections: A Window of Opportunity to Act in Sweden

In the early years, when SAR Sweden launched in 2016, very few scholars were hosted in the country. Over time, we expanded through outreach to universities and actors outside academia, developed new funding streams, and took advantage of opportunities to

Network Reflections: Arts Academy’s Creative Support for Ukrainian Scholars

Given the exodus of over 3 million Ukrainian refugees to Poland, Polish universities are committed to assisting the global higher education community in welcoming and protecting at-risk scholars. The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland, a recent

Network Reflections: American Psychological Association

The American Psychological Association (APA) is an enthusiastic and long-term affiliate member of Scholars at Risk (SAR). Our strategic plan includes several components that underlie our engagement. One of our strategic goals is to “utilize psychology to make a positive

Network Reflections: Remote Scholars Program

Carleton University began hosting scholars at risk remotely in the spring of 2020. It was interesting timing because it coincided with the onset of the global pandemic and it felt like everyone was working remotely at the beginning. Despite the

Network Reflections: Expanding SAR Switzerland

The Swiss Section of Scholars at Risk has its roots in 2008, when the first higher education institution in Switzerland joined the global SAR network. SAR Switzerland thereafter gradually grew in size and strength. The number of at-risk scholars hosted

Network Reflections: KU Leuven

In 2021, KU Leuven welcomed the first two academics to be hosted by the university through the Scholars at Risk Network. The experience, while at times difficult because of COVID-19, has been rewarding for the scholars and the university. It has