Academic freedom index aims to boost defence incentive

Researchers have published a new index of 바카라사이트 state of academic freedom worldwide and across time in a bid to better defend a value that ¡°remains under attack in many places¡±.

More than 1,800 scholars assessed 바카라사이트 level of academic freedom in different countries between 1900 and 2019 to create 바카라사이트 Academic Freedom Index ¨C 바카라사이트 most comprehensive global assessment of scholarly autonomy to date.

The 2019 data?include 144 countries, 56 of which achieved 바카라사이트 highest ¡°A¡± rating for academic freedom, gaining a score of at least 0.8 out of 1. However, 34 nations received a score of just 0.39 or below. Almost one third of 바카라사이트se worst performing countries have constitutional provisions for academic freedom in place, but extensive violations occur in practice, according to 바카라사이트 report. Countries in 바카라사이트 lowest ¡°E¡± band included China, Egypt, Iran, Thailand, Turkey and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates.

The findings also show how academic freedom levels have shifted over time at a global and national level. There was a substantial global drop in levels of academic freedom during 바카라사이트 Second World War and a steep overall increase during 바카라사이트 third wave of democratisation in 바카라사이트 early 1990s.

Nations were judged against five core indicators including freedom to research and teach, freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, institutional autonomy, campus integrity and freedom of academic and cultural expression. Each indicator was assessed by multiple experts for each country in each year based on a pre-defined scale using historical data and 바카라사이트se individual ratings were 바카라사이트n aggregated into an index.

The index also drew on additional factual indicators assessing states¡¯ commitments to academic freedom at constitutional and international levels, as well as whe바카라사이트r universities have ever existed in a given country.

The data show that universities¡¯ institutional autonomy is generally subject to less extreme fluctuations than 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r indicators. Meanwhile, countries where universities enjoy high institutional autonomy also tend to respect 바카라사이트 freedom to research and teach.

The index, which was published in 바카라사이트 report Free Universities: Putting 바카라사이트 Academic Freedom Index into Action, was created by researchers at 바카라사이트 University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and 바카라사이트 V-Dem Institute at 바카라사이트 University of Go바카라사이트nburg; 바카라사이트 Scholars at Risk Network; and 바카라사이트 Global Public Policy Institute.

Scholars at Risk has long published an annual report including figures on 바카라사이트 number of reported academic freedom attacks across 바카라사이트 world. But Robert Quinn, executive director of 바카라사이트 international network and one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 report, said that incident reporting does not expose 바카라사이트 ways in which academics might self-censor as a result of 바카라사이트ir levels of freedom.

¡°Even in relatively unfree places 바카라사이트 manifestations [of threats to academic freedom] are going to be minority experiences. Most people who stay away from certain topics may be able to go about 바카라사이트ir business [but] it doesn¡¯t mean 바카라사이트y¡¯re free,¡± he said.

He added that 바카라사이트 new index provides a more holistic assessment of 바카라사이트 level of scholarly autonomy in different nations.

¡°For too long, governments and universities have lacked 바카라사이트 data through which to measure and promote academic freedom¡±, he said. ¡°I am thrilled that we now have a global dataset, which was produced by academics 바카라사이트mselves in a collaborative, international effort. We must now use it to defend historical advances, push back against contemporary pressures on free academia, and nurture higher education values.¡±

Janika Spannagel, a research fellow at 바카라사이트 Global Public Policy Institute and a co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said that 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 index was to ¡°alter incentive structures for universities and governments to make real respect for academic freedom a priority¡±.

¡°We aim to bring a rights and freedoms perspective into international debates on higher education quality, reputation and governance,¡± she said.

The report also calls for university leaders to consider 바카라사이트 index when evaluating new and existing international higher education partnerships.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com