International Conference on Academic Freedom, Human Rights and the Role of Academia

The opening plenary set the stage for the conference by framing academic freedom as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of democratic societies. Academic freedom is not merely a professional privilege for academics; it is a prerequisite for pluralism, critical thinking, and informed public debate. Universities play a vital role in society as spaces for independent knowledge creation and democratic dialogue. The session brought together global, national, and political perspectives to explore why academic freedom matters for everyone - not only within academia - why it should be understood as a vital public interest, and how it can be advanced on the public agenda.

Contributors: 

• Lena Halldenius, Professor of human rights studies and coordinator of the Lund University Human Rights Profile Area
• Linde Lindkvist, Senior analyst at the Swedish Institute for Human Rights
• Farida Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Education

What role does academia play in a rapidly changing reality? As political pressures and shifting societal expectations challenge traditional models, universities must reimagine themselves to remain spaces for independent analysis, critical reflection, and education free from political influence. At the same time, there is the growing trend of treating universities like corporations, driven by results-oriented policies and global market pressures. This shift undermines academic freedom and autonomy, replacing merit-based hiring with personality and competency tests, and prioritizing efficiency over scholarly values. The session discussed the questions how higher education institutions can adapt to such a changed landscape while safeguarding their democratic mission and academic freedom and how we can build an academic system that is democratic and autonomous.

Contributors:

• Rebecka Letteval, Professor in intellectual history at Malmö University 
& Annika Olsson, Professor in comparative literature, Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Society at Malmö University 
• Benoît Josset, Doctoral student at the University of Rennes, France and Open COST Action project
• Maria Toft, Movement for a Free Academia (MoFaFA) 
• Rasmus Lindstedt, President of the Swedish national union of students (SFS) 
• Moderation: Andrea Boggio, Professor of legal studies at Bryant University, U.S., and Guest Professor at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Swedish universities have comparatively low levels of institutional independence in a Nordic context, largely because state universities are formally government agencies under Swedish administrative law. This governance model, combined with limited access to research funding, is among the key factors restricting academic freedom, both individually and institutionally. TThis session examined alternative organisational and funding models from other European countries and discussed how different institutional structures can strengthen autonomy and safeguard academic freedom.

Contributors:

• Mats Benner, Professor in science policy studies at Lund University School of Economics and Management (The cases of Sweden and Denmark)
• Gergely Kováts, Associate professor at the Corvinus University of Budapest; Member of the Council of Europe Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education and co-author of "The Erosion of Academic Freedom in Europe" (The case of Hungary)
• Vasiliki Kosta, Associate professor of EU Law at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands (The cases of Germany, Greece, The Netherlands and Poland) 
• Moderation: Rebecca Selberg, Associate professor in sociology and gender studies at Lund University and Linnaeus University

Academic freedom in Europe is often perceived as secure, yet recent developments reveal uneven protections, emerging constraints, and differing levels of risk across countries and institutions. This session brought data-driven insights and on-the-ground experience together to examine how academic freedom is developing in Europe, how it is measured, and what it means for scholars to be “at risk.” Using the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) for comparative trends and Scholars at Risk (SAR) case work for lived realities, as well as other, sector-driven initiatives to promote academic freedom, the session aimed to unpack the strengths and limits of metrics, explore legal, political, digital, and workplace pressures, address the freedom of academic and cultural expression, and discuss institutional responsibilities. The session aimed to clarify what it can mean for scholars to be “at risk,” offer a practical framework for interpreting AFI indicators in context, and identify concrete actions that universities, departments, funders, and networks could take to prevent harm and support targeted scholars, without compromising academic standards or due process.

Contributors:

• Katrin Kinzelbach, Professor of political science at Friedrich-Alexander-University, Germany, and co-leader of the Academic Freedom Index project (AFI) 
• Zoltán Rónay, Associate professor at Eötvös Loránd University Hungary; Member of the Council of Europe Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education 
• Ernesto Medina, Previous rector of the American University (UAM) in Managua, Nicaragua.
• Karin Zackari, Associate senior lecturer at the School of Global Studies Gothenburg University 
• Monika Steinel, Deputy Secretary General of the European University Association (EUA) that has published the Principles and Guidelines on “How Universities Can Protect and Promote Academic Freedom "
• Moderation: Anna-Sara Lind, Professor of public law at Uppsala University