ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

Academic freedom is under threat around the world, including Europe. Rising trends in illiberalism and authoritarianism threaten universities as institutions of open societies. Their autonomy as a condition to uphold academic freedom in teaching and research is weakened as a result of political, financial, and social pressures. How can universities resist these challenges? This requires to advance our understanding of academic freedom, and the trends and mechanisms that put it at risk. The Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) Platform Openness Challenged: ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ at Risk?  launches a series of dialogues to tackle these burning questions.

Dialogue 7: The frontal attack of Trump on US Universities

27 August 2025, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

The final dialogue in this series reprises on the first session which ended with the question how academic freedom can be defined and protected. Building on this perspective, we will focus on how academic freedom can best be protected in the Europe. What to expect from the EU as an internal regulator and global actor? What from national governments, state actors, and universities themselves? What is a suitable legal basis to this end and how can we ultimately uphold the values of openness and freedom as European universities engage with partners globally? We will be discussing developments like neo-nationalism, autocracy, and illiberal democracies; trends that endanger academic freedom and institutional autonomy of universities in various parts of the world, including Europe and now also the USA.

Speakers: , UC Berkeley
Convenor: Prof. Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ).

Dialogue 6: Academic Freedom & Social Media: Friend or Foe?

6 June 2024, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

The second dialogue examines the role of social media in relation to academic freedom as a democratic value and right. Universities as core institutions of open societies wish to engage with society. Social media play a growing role in communicating research results to society at large. How can and should social media be used by academics? What are the boundaries and where do academic freedom and freedom of expression interfere? Social media is often described as the most dependence creating phenomenon in the (post-)modern society. How does this relate to the notion of freedom generally and to academic freedom in particular? Are they friends or foes?

Speakers: Prof. dr. Jose van Dijck (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ), Dr. Catalina Goanta (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ).
Convenor: Prof. Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ).

Dialogue 5: Defining, monitoring and protecting Academic Freedom: the Netherlands in European perspective

27 February 2024, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ 12.30-15.00            

In this opening dialogue of the series, we will dive into ongoing research on academic freedom.  How is it understood and defined throughout Europe? How well is it protected and what is changing in this respect? Various studies on the situation in Europe will be presented as a context for a country study on academic freedom in the Netherlands. The session will examine how to monitor trends and issues related to academic freedom, in order to ultimately reflect on the question how academic freedom can be defined and legally protected at the national and European levels. New research that will be undertaken by the Platform will be announced.

Speakers: , , Dr. Lavinia Kortese (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ), .
Convenor: Prof. Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ). 

Dialogue 4: the Open Society and its discontents

8 June 2023, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ 

Openness is a necessary condition for universities to compete and collaborate internationally, to contribute to an open society, to global challenges, and the public good. However, openness cannot any longer be taken for granted in the changing global context. With  (King’s College London), Prof. Mark Bovens (UU) and Prof. Sybe de Vries (UU). Convenor : Prof. Marijk van der Wende.
Liviu Matei's new book: (CEU Press, 2023)
Mark Bovens' publication :IoS Think Paper The Open Society and its Future (2020)
The recording of the session can be found .

Dialogue 3: Current threats viewed from 200 years of ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ History

12 December 2022, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ 

How can universities face the challenges to their autonomy and academic freedom and stand firm to defend the values of an open society, system and global cooperation? What can be learned from the past; were universities (always) on the right side of history? With , Paul Ziche (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ), . Convenor: Marijk van der Wende.
William Kirby’s new book: .

Dialogue 2: Protecting Academic Freedom in the EU - a Legal perspective

20 November 2022, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ 

What role and responsibilities do institutions at various levels of governance in the EU have in protecting academic freedom and how are these divided and coordinated?  What are the relevant legal competences of the EU and those of the Member States? Is the EU sufficiently equipped to protect the university, its institutional autonomy, and in particular academic freedom as enshrined in the CFREU (art 13)? What are implications for universities; what is at stake for society?  With , , Discussant: Lavinia Kortese (UU). Convenor: Marijk van der Wende.

You can find the slides of the presentations here.

Dialogue 1: The role of Universities in Promoting Democracy

29 September 2022, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ 

 made a presentation based on his recent book:  (open access). Discussant: Prof. dr. James Kennedy (UU).
You can find the slides of the presentation here.