"Academic Freedom & University Autonomy in the Balkan, Black Sea & Caspian Regions" Istanbul, Turkey, 23-24 October 2009
Istanbul Bilgi University Human Rights Law Research Centre, the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) and the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Network held a symposium and workshop on ‘Academic Freedom and University Autonomy in the Balkan, Black Sea & Caspian Regions’ on October 23-24, 2009. The events were held at Istanbul Bilgi University and supported by grants from the Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug) and the Arcadia Fund. Faculty members, human rights leaders and researchers from sixteen countries participated in the event, including representatives from Afghanistan, Croatia, Kyrgyz Republic, Iraq, Iran, Romania, Ghana, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, United Kingdom and the United States.
The Rector of Istanbul Bilgi University, Professor Halil M. Güven, opened the event and welcomed participants. SAR and NEAR provided an overview of the goals of the international academic freedom workshops project. Representatives from the Arab Society for Academic Freedom and the African Academic Freedom Network reported on activities in their regions and described the aims of their respective regional networks. Case studies on academic freedom in the participants’ countries followed. The country reports highlighted issues of strength or concern relating to academic freedom, university autonomy and related university values. Participants discussed strategies used in the past to address these issues and suggested new strategies to be employed. The reports offered valuable insights into the range of concerns faced by academics in the region and helped to identify future intervention points.
A participatory workshop was held on the second day of the event. Materials were circulated in advance and included a model framework for analyzing academic freedom questions, case studies and proposals for follow-up activities. The model framework classifies the most common academic freedom-related concerns and proposes a hierarchy of corresponding stages of response. Participants formed small working groups to discuss, analyze and critique the model framework and response strategies. Throughout the discussions, participants were encouraged to think creatively about future activities and strategies for promoting these values at the national, regional and global level.
The final afternoon was dedicated to a discussion of follow-up activities. Participants proposed ways to enhance coordination between regional networks dedicated to promoting academic freedom and university values. Participants agreed to contribute to the development of a new global e-bulletin and to work with SAR and NEAR to develop more effective advocacy strategies with the UN, UNESCO and other international and regional bodies. A full report on the proceedings, presentations and outcomes will be available shortly.
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Alert - Turkey
| Date: | 18 November 2009 |
| Source: | NEAR and SAR |
| Classification: | Summary Report |
| Violation: | Conference and Workshop |
| Affected Persons: |
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