Epple in Europe: Academic freedom in the focus of higher education!

Epple in Europe: Academic freedom in the focus of higher education!

On April 10, 2025, Professor Dr. Angelika Epple, Rector of Bielefeld University, elected board member of the European University Association (EUA). This organization is the central advocacy group for more than 900 members, including 840 European universities, and plays a crucial role in higher education in Europe. Epple was elected for a four-year term during the EUA annual conference in Riga, Latvia, achieving the best result of the new board members. She was nominated by the University Rectors' Conference (HRK).

The choice of Epple underscores the importance of her expertise in the current political and academic landscape. She emphasizes that the defense of academic freedom and democratic values ​​is one of her central concerns. She says: “In times of geopolitical challenges, a common science policy is of utmost importance.” This assessment is particularly relevant as the EUA works to reduce the pressure on academic institutions caused by social and political polarization.

Academic freedom in focus

A central theme of the EUA is the protection of academic freedom, as set out in a recently published position paper entitled “How universities can protect and support academic freedom”. Monika Steinel, Deputy Secretary General of the EUA, emphasizes that the pressure on academic freedom has increased significantly in recent years. The reasons for this are social polarization and the questioning of democratic systems.

The position paper offers a “toolbox” of concrete measures for universities that aim to achieve a stronger institutional and legal anchoring of academic freedom. Recommendations include, among others, the development of a common institutional view on academic freedom and the promotion of training for academic staff. This is an essential step in ensuring that research and teaching staff are protected from undue external pressure.

Eppe's agenda as a board member

Professor Epple plans to give students a critical approach to knowledge production in the context of big data and artificial intelligence. It also aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research collaborations and promote exchange opportunities for students. Her responsibilities also extend to the development and implementation of EUA guidelines, which contributes significantly to the further development of higher education in Europe.

Along with Epple, other prominent members were also elected to the EUA board, including Gregor Majdič, rector of the University of Ljubljana, and Manuel Tuñón de Lara, former rector of the University of Bordeaux. Ivanka Popović, the former rector of the University of Belgrade, was re-elected for a second term. This new and re-election shows the increasing commitment to a networked university community in Europe that aims to exchange and collaborate in research.

Overall, it is clear that the EUA, under Epple's new board leadership, will play an important role in promoting academic freedom and the networking of European universities. Bielefeld University, as a member of the EUA, has the opportunity to actively participate in the design and further development of higher education in Europe.

For further information on current developments and the role of the EEA, forschung-und-lehre.de and uni-bielefeld.de offer comprehensive insights into the topics of academic freedom and higher education.