Academic freedom

Salma al-Shehab given 34-year sentence over critical posts on Twitter

Moves ‘appear to fit a broader pattern’ of Indian authorities using diverse means to restrict researchers’ freedom, says academic rights group

Rector credits Austrian diplomats with getting student’s three-year jail sentence overturned

Judicial leader of campaign to end abortion rights abandons constitutional law seminar at George Washington University

Administrators are noting who is signing petitions critical of government or speaking out publicly, lecturers say

Institutions in the European countries face ‘contamination’ as governments group them with more regulated parts of the education system

Safety concerns lead top research university to cancel lecture on sex and gender, drawing criticism from research minister

Rejections up, but data show universities ‘remain places where debate and the sharing of ideas can thrive’, says OfS

Professors sanctioned for vaccine discussions as politicians seen gearing up for US-style assault on academic rights

Greatest obstacles facing universities coming from increased ideological control over education, says professor

But new Australian education minister silent on sector’s calls for more spending on teaching and research

Latest ruling against an international student arrested over research upon return to the country is decried as a ‘mockery of justice’ by rector

UUK letter to minister says it is ‘unclear what evidence is available’ to back claim that external schemes threaten free speech and requests meeting

Bill opens door to ‘vexatious’ lawsuits against universities and to ministerial ‘control-freakery’ on overseas funding, warn Lord Willetts and Lord Johnson

Dearth of data undermines understanding of cancel culture and other campus codes of silence

English institutions told to ‘reflect carefully’ on whether initiatives such as Race Equality Charter are in conflict with duty to uphold free speech

While some fields have been exempted from a contentious imposition on international doctoral students, sector still fears overkill

Survey finds UK undergraduates appear a lot less supportive of free speech than they were six years ago

Position will be used to ‘keep universities on a shorter leash’ and ‘pre-empt any potential dissent’, academics say

Leading professor proposes charter to protect free exchange of knowledge

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor discusses the importance of role models for students, his approach to hiring top staff and how he has stayed in the role for 15 years

After years of crude attacks on individual faculty and curriculum, Florida’s ambitious partisan governor identifies more palatable and enduring form of deep academic restraint

Alumnus cautions that lines of communication with UK government ‘must remain open’ with transparent timescale for evacuation

Critics say draft policy put out for consultation ‘restricts free speech’ beyond legal obligations

Opposition bid to exclude political donors foiled as government amendment on foreign funding passes

Amendment to free speech legislation would require higher education providers to report proposed partnerships with overseas organisations

Policies ‘frustrating academic freedom’ by supressing lawful free speech, dons argue

Major survey finds most UK undergraduates hear wide variety of opinions shared on campus and share their views freely

Education secretary proposes amendment to higher education legislation to address calls for more transparency

Case spotlights FSU’s influence and prospect of its mounting bigger legal actions against universities once free speech bill becomes law

The Princeton University president discusses the oversimplification of the free speech debate and his personal journey of discovery kicked off by his son’s school project 

Universities ‘must protect’ students’ right to protest, says student union leader

Appeal by academic groups condemns ‘targeted efforts to restrict or retaliate against students’ and scholars’ exercise of academic freedom’

Experts say getting into line with more vigilant Western approach must not mean ‘blind action that destroys cooperation’

Universities need to mount a broader case and form better alliances to defend their autonomy from outside threats, former head of CEU argues

Even universities in the hermit kingdom largely cut themselves off from the rest of the world. Yet those few Westerners with direct experience of them suggest that while critical inquiry is predictably unwelcome, the global publish or perish culture is starting to take hold. Pola Lem reports

Protesters who disrupted gender theory book talk accuse university of ‘repression’ after criminal complaint lodged

Joshua Katz dismissed after renewed probe of sexual misconduct case

Researchers perceive weakening of institution’s international and multilingual atmosphere

Free Speech Union chair issues warning as Conservative adviser poses question on new free speech bill in event of ‘stonking’ election majority

Head of state accused of ‘chilling’ research with three-year block

Student protests ‘historically have ominous portents’ for country, scholar warns

Scholar who fled to Iran after torture says the experience cemented his resolve to teach human rights

PhD student says her legal defeat raises important questions about duty of care owed to students who face harassment

The president of Dillard University says that historically black colleges and universities do a better job than the Ivy League

As Australia’s general election looms, many in university circles may be hoping that Scott Morrison’s coalition is voted out. But is it true that conservative governments and universities are natural antagonists? And how much better would the sector fare under a Labor administration? John Ross reports

Swedish-Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali is given execution date on the day ‘historic’ trial ends

Rival centre’s establishment highlights the problems for thinktanks in universities

Just as campaigns to promote societal benefit show strength, activists admit setbacks in wider battleground for basic academic freedom

Other institutions likely to follow in steps of University of Hong Kong if motion passes, say observers

Covid vaccine successes notwithstanding, researchers should remain wary of corporate capture, says Tahir Shah 

Warning accompanies fresh effort to strengthen Europe-wide protections

Universities have the connections and resources for sophisticated risk management, not just ‘bureaucratic box-ticking’, says British-Australian academic

Universities minister reaffirms plans to tackle campus ‘cancel culture’ and condemns ‘upsurge in physical threats’ against controversial speakers

Conservative thinktank calls for creation of new study centre to address failure of universities to study radical ideologies

Melbourne institute’s mission to heal relations with India clashes with academics’ desire to spotlight subcontinent abuses

Recent measures prevent women from participating in academic conferences or graduation ceremonies

Intervention raises questions over use of institutional resources for political ends

Long-time University of South Florida booster Rhea Law gets the presidency, leaving faculty to wonder if the moment is too much for anyone

Extraordinary meeting fails to resolve governance concerns raised by scores of fellows