Since the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) was published in 2020, it has become one of the most comprehensive datasets on academic freedom internationally. The AFI gives an approach to conceptualize and measure the scale of academic freedom in currently 180 countries and territories over time. Simultaneously, universities in Germany have been increasingly discussing how to deal with growing restrictions to academic freedom worldwide. In particular, the global increase of authoritarianism and populism over the past decade has put pressure on universities. On the one hand, universities participate in global scientific cooperation as this is necessary to address the transnational challenges of our time. On the other hand, they are increasingly confronted with scientific diplomatic crises with countries, such as Iran, China, Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, Belarus, Afghanistan or Russia as well as violent conflicts and wars, such as in Syria, Yemen or Ukraine.

The panel discussion Internationalization and academic freedom – The Academic Freedom Index in practice at the university brings together scholars, university managers and representatives of initiatives for refugees and at-risk scientists to discuss the following questions: Which significance does the AFI have in university practice? Which opportunities and limitations lie within such a global capture of data on academic freedom for the universities? On what basis and how can universities position themselves internationally to enter cooperation?

Program