Academic freedom in danger: protests and new initiatives in Berlin!

Academic freedom in danger: protests and new initiatives in Berlin!

In the coming week, the Humboldt University of Berlin (HU) will address the challenges of academic freedom and support researchers at risk during the third Academic Freedom Week, which will take place from March 31 to April 2, 2025 on the Mitte campus. The event, organized in collaboration with the Berlin University Alliance, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Einstein Foundation and the New University in Exile consortium, aims to develop viable support structures for refugee scientists.

In the context of global conflicts, such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the Taliban's rise to power in Afghanistan, the need for such support has increased significantly in recent years. The HU has already looked after over 60 at-risk scientists in the last ten years, which underlines the urgency and relevance of the event. The program includes workshops, presentations and panel discussions, all held in English. Registration is required and exact venue locations will be provided upon registration.

Academic freedom in a global context

Parallel to Academic Freedom Week, there are also worrying developments in other parts of Germany. HRK President Walter Rosenthal sharply criticized the Russian Ministry of Justice's classification of the German Society for Eastern European Studies (DGO) as “extremist”. This decision poses significant risks for DGO members traveling to Russia, as they fear possible arbitrary criminalization. The HRK therefore calls for university members to be made aware of the associated dangers and reprisals.

In addition, representatives of the Universities for Enlightenment (u4e) initiative in Berlin will discuss threats to academic freedom and in particular the effects of the war in Ukraine. The Academic Freedom Index shows alarming figures: over 50% of the world's population lives in countries where academic freedom has declined. In the last decade in particular, 22 countries have experienced significant restrictions.

Initiatives to Support Scientists at Risk

In order to increase support for affected students and scientists, initiatives such as “Scholars at Risk” and the “TU Bridge Fellowship” at the Technical University of Berlin (TU) are of great importance. These programs are aimed at students and prospective students who are affected by international crises. A newly set up donation account is intended to provide quick financial help to provide support in acute emergency situations.

Barış Ünal, refugee representative at TU Berlin, emphasizes how important small financial aid is to cover basic costs such as exams or translations. This shows that the existing offers of help are often inadequate and the bureaucratic processes can be lengthy. A collaborative working group within the university ensures that these funds are distributed quickly and effectively to directly help those affected.

In summary, it can be said that Humboldt University and other universities in Germany actively promote academic freedom and take concrete measures to support scientists and students at risk. Academic Freedom Week at HU is an important step in this direction, and mobilizing the university community remains crucial to address the challenges arising from international conflicts.