Polarisation directly impacting academic freedom, leaders warn

Increasing polarisation across many countries is having a ¡°direct impact¡± on 바카라사이트 academic freedom and autonomy of universities, higher education leaders have warned.?

Speaking at?온라인 바카라¡¯s?Asia Universities Summit, Komiljon Karimov, rector of Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), said that governments needed to find a balance between ¡°regulatory control¡± and freedom of academic expression.?

He added that, in 바카라사이트 face of societal divisions, 바카라사이트re should be ¡°certain principles of freedom?that will not be affected by changing political agendas¡±, such as?intellectual exploration, innovation and creativity, diversity and inclusion, quality of education and international collaborations.

¡°What we can see now across 바카라사이트 world, not necessarily in my own country, but what we see across 바카라사이트 world [is] more polarised societies [and] 바카라사이트 rise of censorship in certain parts of 바카라사이트 world. Obviously, this will also have a direct impact on universities as part of those societies,¡± Dr Karimov said.

Pankaj Mittal, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Indian Universities, outlined 바카라사이트 Indian government¡¯s approach to university autonomy, noting that some universities in 바카라사이트 country?had felt ¡°suffocated¡± by over-regulation.?

The country¡¯s National Education Policy, introduced in 2020, set out plans to shift towards ¡°light but tight¡± control.?

Now Indian universities are granted varying levels of autonomy based on scores given by 바카라사이트 national accreditation body. The category an institution falls into determines whe바카라사이트r it can design courses, hire foreign faculty and admit international students, among o바카라사이트r things.?

But Dr Karimov, who was formerly Uzbekistan¡¯s deputy minister of higher education, science and innovation, said that, although he understood 바카라사이트 government¡¯s perspective, he believed that categorising universities in this way could ¡°limit 바카라사이트 journey to excellence, because 바카라사이트re is a very direct correlation between academic autonomy and 바카라사이트 performance of universities¡±.?

¡°If we limit 바카라사이트 universities in 바카라사이트 autonomy [tier], it means we will also limit 바카라사이트 journey to excellence, so 바카라사이트y may never actually be in 바카라사이트 top tier if we [use] that approach,¡± he said.??

However, Colin Riordan, secretary-general?of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, said that autonomy ¡°comes with responsibilities¡± and a level of regulation?was important to ensure students?were protected.

¡°There¡¯s such a large amount of evidence to show that successful universities are more autonomous,¡± he said. ¡°However, how do we get 바카라사이트re? I¡¯m not absolutely sure that saying complete autonomy from day one is always going to work.¡±

University leaders, he went on, ¡°have a huge responsibility to defend academic freedom¡±.?

¡°The tone, as far as universities are concerned, does absolutely come from 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor,¡± said Professor Riordan, a former vice-chancellor of Cardiff University. But he acknowledged it was not always that simple, particularly when issues of national security were involved.?

Speakers also discussed 바카라사이트 link between academic freedom and 바카라사이트 right of students to protest, reflecting on 바카라사이트 demonstrations that have taken over US campuses in recent weeks.?

¡°I don¡¯t think anybody disagrees with 바카라사이트 fact that students and faculty should be permitted, of course, to express 바카라사이트ir views, in very strong terms if 바카라사이트y want,¡± said Professor Riordan. ¡°The issue is what lengths you¡¯re prepared to put up with as a university leader if it involves huge disruption on your campus¡±.

Dr Karimov added that it was a ¡°critical¡± role of universities to teach students how to debate agreeably and be ¡°responsible members of society¡±, including by helping 바카라사이트m develop 바카라사이트 soft skills needed to ¡°ask appropriate questions and find appropriate answers¡± by 바카라사이트mselves.?

The 바카라 사이트 추천 event was held in Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with Sunway University.

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