Latest news with #AcademicFreedomIndex
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Relight the Beacon: In the Face of Political and Economic Interference, the FQPPU Rekindles the Fight to Restore the University's Public Mission Français
AT A GLANCE: Three years after the Law, a stark reality: Despite the adoption of Quebec's Loi sur la liberté académique in 2022, universities face growing political interference, institutional inertia, and a global climate of academic freedom in decline. In Quebec, Minister Pascale Déry has significantly weakened the university's public mission rather than protecting it. An ambitious campaign to relight the beacon: FQPPU launches a campaign to bring the university's mission back to the heart of democratic debate. Its manifesto, Relight the Beacon, defends five essential pillars of the university's public purpose: public funding, academic freedom, collegial governance, institutional autonomy, and resistance to the commodification of knowledge. A call to action to end silent erosion:"We want university underfunding and political interference to become shameful and politically costly," says Madeleine Pastinelli. FQPPU calls on society to reclaim ownership of its universities. MONTREAL, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Three years after the passage of the Loi sur la liberté académique dans le milieu universitaire, Quebec's universities remain vulnerable to the very threats the legislation was meant to guard against. The promise of an environment conducive to learning, research, and debate has clashed with a sobering reality: institutions are slow to implement the awareness-raising, information, and promotional measures required by the law (as revealed by access-to-information reports), even as academic freedom violations multiply. In 2025, Quebec is not immune to a global trend, documented by the Academic Freedom Index, of declining academic freedom, even in long-standing democracies. Here, Minister Pascale Déry's harmful actions—including her refusal to acknowledge threats from the U.S. against researchers, as well as her interference in teaching content and faculty appointments —have hollowed out the very ministry charged with protecting this freedom. On this grim anniversary, the Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université (FQPPU) declares it is time to restore the public mission of universities. Relight the Beacon: A Mobilization to Restore the University's Mission This global erosion of academic freedom is but a symptom of a broader storm—declining collegiality, threats to institutional autonomy, budgetary manipulation, and managerial drift—that directly undermines the university's fundamental democratic role. In response, FQPPU today unveils Relight the Beacon, a rallying manifesto calling for engagement and resistance. It marks the launch of a campaign to restore the university's capacity to fulfill its public mission. "The university is not a brand to be sold, nor a parrot for political and economic rhetoric serving private interests," said Madeleine Pastinelli, president of FQPPU. "The university must remain a beacon for the public—where critical thinking can challenge, where truth is not negotiable, and where society can reflect and imagine alternative futures." In a climate of increasing cynicism, polarization, and disinformation, the Federation invites all those committed to free inquiry and democratic vitality to join this movement. Adopted unanimously by FQPPU's Federal Council in April, the campaign centers on five pillars essential to the university's mission, all under serious threat: A massive and sustained reinvestment in universities as a public good Full protection of academic freedom Authentic collegial governance Concrete measures to ensure institutional autonomy A united front against the commodification of knowledge This mobilization aims to reignite public debate on the university's role in democratic life and to underscore its status as a cornerstone of our society. "We also want political interference in universities—or budget cuts to higher education and research—to be seen as shameful, politically costly, and socially unacceptable," Pastinelli added. "The university's mission is too important to be surrendered to interests that do not serve the common good. It's time we reclaim it, together." Let us recall that on May 13, FQPPU called for the immediate resignation of Minister Pascale Déry, whose repeated actions have broken all trust with the university communities.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Relight the Beacon: In the Face of Political and Economic Interference, the FQPPU Rekindles the Fight to Restore the University's Public Mission
AT A GLANCE: Three years after the Law, a stark reality: Despite the adoption of Quebec's Loi sur la liberté académique in 2022, universities face growing political interference, institutional inertia, and a global climate of academic freedom in decline. In Quebec, Minister Pascale Déry has significantly weakened the university's public mission rather than protecting it. An ambitious campaign to relight the beacon: FQPPU launches a campaign to bring the university's mission back to the heart of democratic debate. Its manifesto, Relight the Beacon, defends five essential pillars of the university's public purpose: public funding, academic freedom, collegial governance, institutional autonomy, and resistance to the commodification of knowledge. A call to action to end silent erosion: "We want university underfunding and political interference to become shameful and politically costly," says Madeleine Pastinelli. FQPPU calls on society to reclaim ownership of its universities. MONTREAL, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Three years after the passage of the Loi sur la liberté académique dans le milieu universitaire, Quebec's universities remain vulnerable to the very threats the legislation was meant to guard against. The promise of an environment conducive to learning, research, and debate has clashed with a sobering reality: institutions are slow to implement the awareness-raising, information, and promotional measures required by the law (as revealed by access-to-information reports), even as academic freedom violations multiply. In 2025, Quebec is not immune to a global trend, documented by the Academic Freedom Index, of declining academic freedom, even in long-standing democracies. Here, Minister Pascale Déry's harmful actions—including her refusal to acknowledge threats from the U.S. against researchers, as well as her interference in teaching content and faculty appointments—have hollowed out the very ministry charged with protecting this freedom. On this grim anniversary, the Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université (FQPPU) declares it is time to restore the public mission of universities. Relight the Beacon: A Mobilization to Restore the University's MissionThis global erosion of academic freedom is but a symptom of a broader storm—declining collegiality, threats to institutional autonomy, budgetary manipulation, and managerial drift—that directly undermines the university's fundamental democratic role. In response, FQPPU today unveils Relight the Beacon, a rallying manifesto calling for engagement and resistance. It marks the launch of a campaign to restore the university's capacity to fulfill its public mission. "The university is not a brand to be sold, nor a parrot for political and economic rhetoric serving private interests," said Madeleine Pastinelli, president of FQPPU. "The university must remain a beacon for the public—where critical thinking can challenge, where truth is not negotiable, and where society can reflect and imagine alternative futures." In a climate of increasing cynicism, polarization, and disinformation, the Federation invites all those committed to free inquiry and democratic vitality to join this movement. Adopted unanimously by FQPPU's Federal Council in April, the campaign centers on five pillars essential to the university's mission, all under serious threat: A massive and sustained reinvestment in universities as a public good Full protection of academic freedom Authentic collegial governance Concrete measures to ensure institutional autonomy A united front against the commodification of knowledge This mobilization aims to reignite public debate on the university's role in democratic life and to underscore its status as a cornerstone of our society. "We also want political interference in universities—or budget cuts to higher education and research—to be seen as shameful, politically costly, and socially unacceptable," Pastinelli added. "The university's mission is too important to be surrendered to interests that do not serve the common good. It's time we reclaim it, together." Let us recall that on May 13, FQPPU called for the immediate resignation of Minister Pascale Déry, whose repeated actions have broken all trust with the university communities. Since 1991, the FQPPU is the representative body of university faculty in Quebec. SOURCE Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université (FQPPU) View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Why academic freedom matters
Althoughacademic freedom has been defined in many ways, the most comprehensive definition, in my view, appears in the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel. It states: 'Academic freedom is the right, without constriction by prescribed doctrine, to freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely their opinion about the institution or system in which they work, freedom from institutional censorship, and freedom to participate in professional or representative academic bodies.' To this definition, one might add that academics also have the right to act as public intellectuals critically examining matters of public interest and actively engaging with the broader public. Various reports suggest that academic freedom is increasingly under threat in many countries, including the U.S. and India. Each year, the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) project releases a report on the state of academic freedom around the world. According to the AFI 2025, the U.S. and India rank 85th and 156th out of 179 countries, respectively. Notably, India has experienced a statistically significant decline in academic freedom over the past decade. The American education system, once renowned for fostering and promoting critical thinking, now appears to be setting a troubling precedent for countries that have long looked to the U.S. for guidance. Critics argue that the Trump administration pressured institutions of higher education to align unquestioningly with what I refer to as 'Trumpicies', a portmanteau for Trump's policies. Recently, the government ordered Harvard University to reduce the influence of students and faculty in university governance, to cease funding student groups allegedly promoting 'criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment', and to report foreign students who violate conduct rules to government authorities. However, the university refused to comply and issued a bold statement: 'No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.' This courageous stance by Harvard's leadership has been widely commended by people from diverse walks of life. Indian context Has any university leadership in India shown such courage in recent times? The answer, unfortunately, is all too clear. The recent arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University for his social media posts regarding Operation Sindoor has been strongly condemned by various political parties, faculty associations, and student bodies. They have described the arrest as a blatant violation of academic freedom. What is deeply unfortunate is that the Ashoka University administration chose to distance itself from the professor. India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises the importance of critical thinking. But is it truly possible to cultivate critical thinking in students without engaging with recent, real-world examples? Consider the events following Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Media outlets in both Pakistan and India were found reporting fiction as fact. When mainstream media spreads misinformation or disinformation — and such content rapidly goes viral on social media platforms like WhatsApp — it becomes the responsibility of educators to critically examine these reports and comment on them, with the sole aim of educating the public. As informed and engaged citizens, academics and scholars are expected to discuss and debate issues of national and global significance, to stand for truth, and to raise their voices against injustice. This is also an essential expression of academic freedom. Intellectual bedrock Why does academic freedom matter? It matters because it forms the foundation of vibrant academic institutions and a progressive society; empowers faculty, scholars, and students to question, debate, and explore ideas without fear, which is essential for intellectual growth; enables scholars to challenge prevailing beliefs, ideologies, and the status quo, paving the way for breakthroughs across all fields; and upholds democratic values and fosters open, meaningful dialogue. Educators play a crucial role in upholding academic integrity and freedom. If faculty and students confine themselves solely to their disciplines and avoid engaging with global issues such as climate change, gender equality, poverty, democracy, and human rights, they risk becoming insular and disconnected from the world. Education should empower students to think critically and respond to complex issues with empathy. As Paulo Freire said, 'Education is freedom'. Without academic freedom, education risks becoming mere propaganda. Academic freedom is inseparable from truth. In his renowned work Truth and Truthfulness, Bernard Williams writes, 'The need for truth is not a luxury or a convenience, but a necessity. It is a requirement imposed on us by the structure of our consciousness.' When this insight is reframed by substituting 'truth' with 'academic freedom,' it gains even deeper significance. The writer is an ELT resource person and education columnist. Email rayanal@
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ali Khan Mahmudabad's arrest: At private universities, the promise of academic freedom belied
Academic freedom (or lack of it) across India's educational institutes has been a matter of discussion for some time. Unfortunately, our rank in the Academic Freedom Index, developed by the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is 179. What is also alarming is the gradual decline of this score. Educators seem to exercise a lot of self-censorship both within and outside the classroom. Online classes, recordings of lectures and even students are mostly viewed as potential 'risk hazards'. The fear of 'going viral' for something that we might have said in the classroom makes us more aware than we should be in a free academic environment. Initially, the lack of academic freedom was seen as an exclusive trait of public universities, where the state's involvement often acted as a deterrent. Against this backdrop, the newly emerged private universities like Ashoka University, Shiv Nadar University and O. P. Jindal Global University, to name a few, became an accommodating space for critical studies and discussions. Notably, all of these universities are known for charging exorbitant fees. Several well-known academics left public universities to join these emerging spaces. Many thought that negotiating academic freedom in these alternative spaces would be easier. Beyond the security and safety that a government job offers, the aspirations and hopes surrounding these private universities were significant. The recent arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad and the subsequent distancing of the university administration from the faculty member show that private universities are no better when it comes to academic freedom. One may argue that the university did not take any action against Mahmudabad for expressing his personal opinion on social media. But its distancing says a lot. In its carefully crafted statement, the university authority said, 'They do not represent the opinion of the university', adding that they would 'continue to cooperate with the Police and local authorities in the investigation, fully.' This is not the only time when a private university has deserted its employees. Ashoka University has distanced itself many times in the past — Rajendran Narayanan, Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian are some prominent names on the list. This is not to say that the space of solidarity has disappeared, but it has shrunk. Faculties and students globally have come out in support of these academics, including Mahmudabad. However, it cannot absolve the university of its responsibility to stand by its faculty to uphold academic freedom. The hypocrisy of these universities gets exposed further when they thrive on their faculty's successes but do not offer support during their tough times. In these universities, the use of social media by faculty members is never discouraged. Rather, they are expected to share updates about their achievements, like recent publications and research grants. University handles are also happy to share and glorify these profiles to attract students. But if their academic engagement invites the government's wrath, they prefer silence or distancing. Private universities are exclusionary by their very design. Only people of a certain economic class can afford them. In many of these places, no affirmative action is followed either in students' admission or in teachers' recruitment. The aspiration of academic freedom is a major factor in making them thrive. As private universities fail in this most fundamental aspect, it is high time to rebuild public universities and make them spaces for critical academic debate and discussions. The writer teaches Sociology in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati
Morocco World
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Ranks Among Bottom Half in Global Academic Freedom Index 2025
Rabat — Morocco continues to face major challenges in academic freedom, according to the 2025 Academic Freedom Index. Released by V-Dem Institute and Friedrich-Alexander-Erlangen-Nuremberg University, the ranking placed the North African country in the lower rankings worldwide, in the bottom 40-50% of countries alongside Senegal, Somalia, Maldives, and Liberia. The findings in this ranking reflects a concerning reality that Moroccan academics, who deal with ongoing restrictions in teaching, research, and academic expression, face in expressing their academic thoughts. The comprehensive report evaluated 179 countries and territories through the end of 2024 using standardized surveys and precise statistical data. The index used five key indicators to assess academic freedom, namely freedom of research and teaching, freedom of academic exchange and knowledge dissemination, university autonomy, campus safety, and freedom of academic and cultural expression. Morocco's low ranking mirrors broader challenges across the Arab world, where most countries fall into the lowest tiers of the index. Restrictions on research, teaching, and academic expression have significantly impacted academic spaces throughout the region. Read also: Unlocking Academic Success: How Assignment Help Can Boost Your Education Countries like Egypt, Syria, and Palestine rank among the worst 10% globally, while Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, and Iraq face varying degrees of limitations. The report linked several factors that contribute to poor performance of academic freedom, including government interference in university affairs, legal restrictions on free expression, weak institutional independence, and a culture of self-censorship within academic communities. These factors humper the practices that scientific research and intellectual creativity requires. The global picture shows a general decline in academic freedom, with 34 countries experiencing noticeable decreases in research and teaching freedom over the past decade, while only eight countries showed significant improvement. The report stated that academic freedom and healthy democratic systems are interrelated, noting 'that countries with anti-pluralist parties in government have lower levels of academic freedom than those where anti-pluralist parties have little-to-no political influence.' Case studies from Argentina, Poland, and the US demonstrate how internal political changes can significantly impact academic environments. The Academic Freedom Index project began in 2017 as an initiative by German researchers with support from the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. Since then, it has developed into the most comprehensive source of data on academic freedom worldwide. Tags: Academic freedom in MoroccoAcademic Freedom IndexMorocco
