Academic freedom in turbulent times

Universities Ireland, the Scholars at Risk Ireland Section, and Maynooth University will host a day-long event including lectures and a roundtable discussion entitled “Academic freedom in turbulent times” addressing increasing threats to academic freedom from authoritarian regimes, in regions at war or under occupation, and also by intolerant state and non-state actors.

Presenters will discuss safeguarding academic freedom and the conditions for critical thinking in these turbulent times; measures that can be taken to embed the principle of academic freedom as part of the international rights agenda; and how can academic freedom can be defended as “managerial culture” becomes ever more prevalent within universities and educational institutions. Speakers will draw on first-hand experiences as well as their research to address these themes.

Please find a draft program of the event here. More information is forthcoming.

Featured speakers include:

• Philip Nolan, President – President, Maynooth University
• Homa Hoodfar –  Professor emerita of anthropology, Concordia University
• Jamil Khader – Professor of English and Dean of Research, Bethlehem University, and author, political commentator, and journalist
• Sinead O’Gorman – European Director of the Scholars at Risk Network
• A scholar of sociology from Turkey
• A scholar of food science from Syria