The Council of Europe Education Policy department is pleased to announce the second set of briefs in the Academic Freedom Insights series, a collection of ten policy papers addressing the most pressing challenges to academic freedom in Europe and beyond. The briefs aim to raise awareness, inform policy debates, and support action by governments, institutions, and civil society to strengthen academic freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.
To mark the launch, we invite you to join the webinar:
“Freedom to Think: Repression, Resistance, and the Right to Academic Freedom”
Wednesday, 10 September 2025 - 11:00-12:30 CET
Please register here.
Speakers:
- Kirsten Roberts-Lyer, Professor and Chair of the Human Rights Programme, Central European University
- Denise Roche, Advocacy Manager, Scholars At Risk Europe (SAR)
- Zoltán Ronay, Professor, Institute of Education, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Gergely Kováts, Professor, Institute of Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
Webinar Focus Areas:
• Academic Freedom: Human Rights Perspective
This brief presents academic freedom as a distinct human right, essential for democracy, free inquiry, and the protection against manipulation and distortion. It calls for stronger recognition of its rights-based dimension at international, national, and institutional levels, to ensure effective protection and implementation.
• Transnational Repression and Threats to Scholars
This brief examines how state actors target scholars across borders through intimidation, surveillance, coercion-by-proxy, and legal harassment. It highlights the growing risks to academics in Europe and outlines concrete policy responses to better protect scholars from foreign interference.
• Self-Censorship in Academia: Causes and Consequences
This brief investigates the factors that lead scholars and students to self-censor, including political pressure, social backlash, or institutional constraints. It considers the chilling effect of self-censorship on academic inquiry and democratic debate, and proposes measures to foster an environment where diverse ideas can be expressed freely.
Interactive Discussion
After the panel presentations, a moderated discussion will explore practical strategies to uphold academic freedom, with a Q&A session open to participants.
The Insights webinars offer a chance to hear directly from the authors, ask questions, and engage in dialogue with peers. Your participation will help shape the ongoing conversation on how to safeguard academic freedom across Europe.
For more information, please contact Jelena Drca at [email protected].
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