Presidents of the FORTHEM universities: academic freedom in danger!

Presidents of the FORTHEM universities: academic freedom in danger!

On May 30, 2025, an important meeting of FORTHEM partner universities took place in Palermo, including the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). With this one Presidium meeting A joint declaration in defense of academic freedom was adopted. This declaration emphasizes the need to ensure the independence and integrity of higher education and research in Europe and beyond.

The participants, consisting of presidents and rectors of nine partner universities, recognized the growing threats to the freedom of research and teaching in many countries. State actors who question standards and basic understandings of scientific work were mentioned. Political and commercial interests also weigh heavily on independent research.

Academic freedom under pressure

The declaration also addressed the restrictions on academic freedom, which are particularly reinforced by funding cuts in the social sciences and humanities. Long-term projects, especially on environmental and climate issues, are at risk. In addition, initiatives to promote diversity, equality and inclusion are increasingly delegitimized.

The social, political and media environment is often characterized by disinformation, which increases the challenge for open, creative and responsible citizens. The FORTHEM Alliance strives to educate such citizens and relies on values ​​such as critical thinking, science and fair dialogue.

Strengthening academic freedom

Parallel to the developments in Palermo emphasized Federal Minister Cem Özdemir in a meeting with representatives of the Alliance of Science Organizations, the essential role of academic freedom for social and economic progress. He explained that restrictions on academic freedom should also be understood as interference with democracy.

Özdemir emphasized that Germany offers researchers who cannot work freely in their home countries perspectives within the German science system. The aim is to strengthen Germany as a research location and the European research area. Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association, emphasized the need for international cooperation to overcome global challenges such as climate change.

Together for the future of science

The FORTHEM alliance is planning one Democracy Week in May 2025, in which students from the partner universities as well as young people from Ukraine and the Balkans will take part. The aim is to call on policymakers to take action on issues such as disinformation, authoritarianism and inequality.

The partner institutions of the FORTHEM alliance reaffirm their commitment to academic freedom and are committed to international cooperation in teaching and research. A common goal is to defend the principles that should secure the future of science, education and democratic societies in Europe and beyond.