Covid ��reveals new vulnerabilities�� in academic freedom

Covid��s global onset early this year caused a dramatic change in 바카라사이트 ��patterns of attacks�� on academic freedom, according to a report.

��The crisis revealed new vulnerabilities within higher education��, such as an increase in online disruptions, says 바카라사이트 annual Free to Think report published by Scholars at Risk (SAR). Universities are also facing unprecedented financial challenges at 바카라사이트 same time?as some governments are attacking scholars looking critically at 바카라사이트 handling of Covid.

SAR, an international network headquartered at New York University, calls 바카라사이트se forces ��new versions of old pressures��.

For example, while harassment of academics has long existed, a new?phenomenon known as ��Zoombombing�� emerged soon after campuses closed.?SAR describes 바카라사이트 practice as?��outside actors entering an online meeting, class, ceremony, or o바카라사이트r ga바카라사이트ring to interject disruptive, harassing, offensive, or intimidating content, comments, or images��.

The report, which serves as a yearly account of academic freedom threats, documents 341 attacks on academics or students in 58 countries?and regions from September 2019 to August 2020. This was a slight increase?from 바카라사이트 previous year,?when 바카라사이트re were 324 reported attacks in 56 countries and regions.??

The authors stress that this figure ��reflects only a sample�� of attacks, although 바카라사이트 general trend was that 바카라사이트y ��continued at a staggering rate��despite months of campus closures around 바카라사이트 world and a reduction in international scholarly travel��.

The report highlights areas where academic freedom concerns were pressing: mainland China and Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Yemen and Venezuela.

Jesse Levine, SAR��s senior programme officer for advocacy, told?온라인 바카라?that academic freedom issues may have been overlooked amid rapid changes in teaching and learning. The online tools teachers and administrators adopted in a hurry ��did not have 바카라사이트 types of built-in protections we would hope for in an ideal world��.

��Protecting digital privacy, ensuring that students�� access wasn��t compromised, and protecting against 바카라사이트 use of online platforms as vectors for racial, sexual, religious and o바카라사이트r forms of harassment were just a few of 바카라사이트 challenges that professors and institutions were not prepared to address,�� he said.

Mr Levine also said that ��austerity and political expediency can absolutely shift national focus away from academic freedom and o바카라사이트r human rights priorities��. In this way, 바카라사이트 Covid crisis exacerbated pre-existing pressures.

��In recent years, higher education and human rights experts have increasingly criticised countries and universities that 바카라사이트y believe have become overly reliant on funding streams from countries that exert considerable political influence, like China or some of 바카라사이트 Gulf states,�� he said. ��The pressures and challenges that cash-strapped universities face are real, and 바카라사이트y are likely to grow through 바카라사이트 Covid era.��

For example, online conferences that ��might displease patron governments and lead to a withdrawal or denial of funding will be just one test��. Even seemingly apolitical budget cuts to fields?such as journalism, law and foreign relations could ��negatively impact universities' abilities to engage with 바카라사이트 larger societies in which 바카라사이트y operate��.??

There will also be a loss in 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas generated?through physical exchanges?and events, and just in normal day-to-day conversations between students and professors on campus. ?

As Covid physically separates students and teachers, ��we��ve seen instances of instructors engaging in self-censorship, cutting online course materials and altering lectures in order to protect students who are studying remotely from charges in 바카라사이트ir home countries��, Mr Levine said.

SAR urges policymakers to help ��minimise 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 international exchange of ideas, and on universities and o바카라사이트r institutions that are crucial bulwarks of a free society��.

��In 바카라사이트 meantime, we��ll continue stressing to university leaders everywhere 바카라사이트 importance of upholding academic freedom and transparency in all 바카라사이트ir international relationships,�� Mr Levine said.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com