Advocacy for Academic Freedom and Human Rights

Description

In this summer school we will discuss academic freedom and related human rights in an international perspective. Participants practice developing campaigns for academic freedom and related human rights, for example in support of an academic institution under threat or in support of an unjustly prosecuted academic.

Academic freedom and the related human rights of students and scholars are acutely endangered in Europe and many places around the world. These challenges are intertwined with democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space, as well as organized campaigns against diversity and inclusion of minority voices. How can we ensure that universities remain -or become- places of free scientific enquiry and debate and social responsibility? How can we, as members of the academic community, support students and scholars and institutions at risk? 

Universities play a vital role in fostering inclusive dialogue, shape policy through research, and strenghten democratic institutions in our complex global landscape. In this course we will reflect on the meaning of universities in open societies, and how research and education academic build democratic resilience. We take European values as our foundational principles, as defined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The six core values are: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities, as well as gender equality and sexual equality.

During the summer school, we engage in discourses on academic freedom and related human rights in an international perspective and practice developing advocacy campaign to defend academic freedom, or in support of a unjustly prosecuted scholar. 

Participants in this summer school will be able to critically analyze concepts of academic freedom and academic responsibility as well as related human rights, comparing their interpretation across different (epistemic) perspectives. In addition to this, participants gain insights into the different ways by which academic freedom and the human rights of scholars can be violated/constrained. 

Participants will be introduced to practical knowledge of the different tools and strategies available to protect and promote academic freedom, academic solidarity and social responsibility as well as to human rights of at-risk students and scholars, on campus or elsewhere.

Participants will get to know a number of European and international organisations and networks active in the field of promoting academic freedom and protecting students, scholars and universities at risk, such as the Scholars at Risk Network, the Magna Charta Observatory, and the current European network 'Democratization at stake' (a COST action).

Participants will further develop professional skills to effectively and ethically plan, implement and assess human rights and public policy advocacy campaigns to protect and promote fundamental academic values and at-risk students, scholars and universities. Some essentials of social media campaigns, legal frameworks, communication strategies, and global networks will be introduced. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course participants will have acquired: 

• A critical knowledge about different interpretations of academic freedom at different times and across different regional and institutional contexts;
• An introduction of how different disciplines contribute to this key principles of higher education and democratic societies;
• The capacity to discuss the connections between academic freedom and social responsibility of students and scholars, including the rights of minorities (as well as gender equality and sexual equality); 
• A variety of examples of violations of academic freedom and the way they impact on students/researchers, the higher education communities and societies more broadly, and how these violations may differ between authoritarian and democratic contexts;
• Knowledge of the relevant EU/global policies, programmes, initiatives and institutions aiming at protecting academic freedom and the human rights of students/scholars at institutional, national and supranational levels;
• The capacity to link theory and practice through human rights and public policy advocacy research and practice.
• Skills in planning advocacy campaigns in support of academic freedom, human rights of students and scholars, and democratic resilience.

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For all summer school course materials: views expressed in videos and texts do not necessarily reflect those of all contributors, networks or affiliated partners.

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The summer school is a joint collaboration of Utrecht University, Ruhr University Bochum, the Utrecht Network and the COST ACTION 23149: Democratization at stake.

Day to Day Documents

Van de Laar & Vernekohl, 2026 - Summer school course schedule DRAFT vs260717.pdf

Lecturers

Staff involved (changes may occur):

• Prof. Adam Braver (Scholars at Risk, New York)
• Prof. Liviu Mattei (King's College, London and Magna Charta Obs.)
• Prof. Katharine Fortin (Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, Utrecht)
• Iris Vernekohl (Ruhr University Bochum)
• Bart van de Laar (Utrecht University)
• Jurgen Rienks (Neth-ER)
• Speakers from COST Action (CA23149) 'Democratization at Stake' - to be confirmed
• At-risk scholars (hosted by/collaborating with Utrecht Network member)

Target audience

Master and PhD-students from universities in the Utrecht Network (please check: https://utrecht-network.org/our-members/ ), and its global network members (please check: https://utrecht-network.org/# ). Master and PhD-students from other institutions are also warmly invited to apply.

Participants of COST Action (CA23149) 'Democratization at Stake'.

Higher education professionals, e.g. policy officers and managers. 

Aim of the course

• To prepare and train the next generation of globally responsible and engaged scholars/graduates/teaching staff/global citizens at our universities, the Utrecht Network, global network partners and beyond.
• To promote academic freedom, academic solidarity and (global) social responsibility as well as the human rights of at-risk students, scholars and institutions in Europe and around the world.
• To contribute to a free, socially responsible and more equitable European and global higher education and research system.

Study load

• Two full days self study, 13-14 August (online course and literature).
• Five full days in person, in week 17-21 August  (practical part, student groups, and advocacy project, for example, in support of an academic institution under threat or in support of an unjustly prosecuted academic).
• A one hour online session, 13-14 August (introduction, and question and answer session).