Academic freedom

Whole role of science in societies ‘being threatened’ by period of great turbulence, says scholar who chaired Ireland’s Covid vaccination drive

Stella Maris was removed from position on St Andrews governing body after accusing Israel of genocide

Institutions advising on Armenia’s merger plans should consider how ‘academic city’ will make student protest impossible, warns Harvard professor

New restrictions following pro-Palestinian encampments appear to contravene Australian universities’ commitments on free speech, says legal academic

Bill proposing screening of all scholars working on ‘sensitive areas’ will create ‘huge administrative burden’, leaders warn

Bill requires universities to promise not to ‘take positions’ on non-core issues or ban invited speakers because of what they might say

University handed record fine over free speech breaches claims ruling gives ‘free rein’ to racists and sexists

OfS’ free speech director tells institutions to ensure they are meeting ‘regulatory obligations’ after Sussex fine

OfS finding that university failed to uphold its free speech duties prompts others into reviewing policies that some believe were ‘copied and pasted’

No word on whether US research partnerships must be registered for possible veto, after American authorities suspend contracts on ideological grounds

The Sussex verdict notwithstanding, we need to ask whose participation free speech enables or denies, says Rishi Trikha

Compulsory assessment tasks that highlight cultural histories of Australia and New Zealand help prepare students for future careers, universities insist

Any academic who adopts a social constructionist view of gender without studying the alternatives is embarrassingly superficial, says Eric Heinze

OfS defends ‘thorough’ investigation that legal expert says leaves institutions ‘without clear guidance’

The law around free speech is complex, but Sussex just seems to have got it wrong and has paid a hefty price, says James Murray

Vice-chancellor calls regulator’s investigation ‘Kafkaesque’ as probe into departure of Kathleen Stock finally concludes

High Court judgment preventing protesters from disrupting ceremonies sets ‘dangerous precedent’, say human rights groups

Removal of researcher who had anti-Trump messages on phone prompts European academics to avoid travelling to the US

Rules designed for adversaries do not help against friends, expert warns, as US grills Australian researchers on DEI, ‘environmental justice’, ‘gender ideology’ and China links

The terror financing bill’s broad language may require international efforts to defend academic freedom, says Caroline Ball

Chinese literature and linguistics professor returns to university after disappearing during a trip back to China in 2023

Changes to science policy organisation decried as political interference after long-standing tensions

New research links anti-pluralist leaders with declining academic freedom, warning of ‘dire consequences’ for academia

Regulator ‘looking forward to getting on with it’ after key interventions delayed by political wrangling

Institution is ‘balancing the right to protest with the rights of others to not be adversely affected’, says new vice-chancellor

While hundreds of academics decry education minister’s intervention, supporters say he acted in researchers’ interests

Pro-Palestine campaigners claim ‘important victory’ but university says interim ruling demonstrates that restrictions do not limit freedom of speech

University seeks five-year year injunction against protests over Middle East conflict but faces opposition from union and civil liberties group

With its Trump-style promise to smash woke ideology on campus, Germany’s far-right populist party is widely seen as a threat by academics. And with even the country’s mainstream parties promising little for higher education or research, few are relishing Sunday’s election. Emily Dixon reports

Delayed introduction of England’s campus free speech act will help scholars confront bias confirmation propagated by social media bubbles, argue Carla Ferstman and Faten Ghosn

Former Warwick v-c warns ‘industrialisation’ of universities risks turning academics into ‘drones’, and says fellow leaders have done little to help

Long caught up in debates about academic freedom and internationalisation, liberal arts may not survive in city state beyond closure of pioneering partnership

Two dozen academics join ‘mainstream’ call for a health check on youth gender treatment

Political pressures and legislative haziness leave institutions ‘on a hiding to nothing’

Scouring funded grant applications for ‘woke’ terminology is ‘chilling’, say top US researchers alarmed by defunding threats

In-depth Hepi report promises inside story of last summer’s UK campus protests 

University reform commission announced by Georgian prime minister likely means of tightening political control, scholars warn

Regulator yet to conclude investigation into philosopher’s departure from Sussex despite renewed focus on free speech issues

Cambridge philosopher appointed to oversee free speech in English universities has been unusually quiet since starting the role. Might changes seen as ‘clipping his wings’ force him to be more vocal?

Bid to hand funding council ability to intervene amid worsening institutional finances could be open for abuse, critics fear

Right to sue universities over free speech complaints among the elements of act to be removed by education secretary

‘Statutory tort’ allowing for universities to be sued over alleged free speech breaches likely to be removed when legislation is reintroduced later this month, according to reports

‘People lose a lot of their energy and resources to fear and speculation versus focusing on what’s actually happening,’ says newly inaugurated Boston University leader

Campaigners claim work institutions had begun in anticipation of law change now all but abandoned

Oxford student union president Addi Haran Diman is highlighting the difficulties faced by postgraduate researchers after completing a DPhil at 22

Social science faculty at National University of Singapore told ‘higher risk’ campus speakers face additional ‘administrative formalities’

Comments from the country’s new ministers have raised concerns about the future of women’s role in education and public positions 

Proposed legislative changes will require institutions to obtain approval of ‘free speech statements’, and live up to them

Hungary ‘has not sufficiently addressed’ conflict of interest concerns, EU body rules

Academics sign open letter to education minister amid reports she is set to ‘water down’ campus free speech legislation

As newly formed institution adopts non-attribution principle, Harvard is among those considering whether it should be applied more widely

FIRE Faculty Survey Report finds Israel-Hamas conflict is the most difficult subject to have honest conversations about

Outgoing president says that city’s universities still have ‘tremendous potential’, but that their autonomy should be protected

University accuses protesters of creating hostile environment on campus

Vast majority of scholars admit self-censoring over fears they will be targeted by students or academics, suggests Times Higher Education’s free speech survey

As wars, both real and cultural, rage around the world, disputes about academic freedom are becoming ever more fraught. Is freedom of speech under threat on campus? And are some restrictions a reasonable price to pay to avoid offence or harm? We present the views of more than 450 academics

Stella Maris launches judicial review against removal from governing body over Israel ‘genocide’ claim

The chancellor of Abu Dhabi University on different types of intelligence, freedom of speech and universities in the East versus West 

Balázs Hankó defends university governance reforms in THE interview

Republican claims calling out lecturer over what he said about students who voted for president-elect was ‘defending free speech’