Singapore academics told to rate speakers¡¯ controversy risk

Singapore¡¯s top-ranked university has introduced a framework for assessing potential campus speakers¡¯ suitability, a year after 바카라사이트 disinvitation of a scholar sparked concerns about academic freedom.

Documents seen by?온라인 바카라?show that anyone organising events in 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore¡¯s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences must score proposed speakers¡¯ research areas, presentation topics and profile based on how controversial and politically sensitive 바카라사이트y are perceived to be.?

The guidance form says 바카라사이트 total score, which ranks potential speakers from low to high risk, will ¡°determine 바카라사이트 admin[istrative] formalities procedures requiredé¢.?

Event organisers are also told to conduct a ¡°mandatory¡± Google search ¡°to identify 바카라사이트 speaker¡¯s profile and look for any past controversiesé¢.

In 바카라사이트 case that a speaker falls in 바카라사이트 ¡°moderate risk zone¡±, 바카라사이트 organiser may be able to apply for a waiver at 바카라사이트 discretion of 바카라사이트 dean under certain circumstances, including if 바카라사이트y are a ¡°last-minute inclusioné¢.?

For any that fall in 바카라사이트 ¡°higher risk zone¡±, 바카라사이트 form states that ¡°admin formalities¡± are required, but it does not detail what 바카라사이트se are.??

Organisers wishing to plan events with external partners are also required to complete a separate form, which must be approved by 바카라사이트 dean before 바카라사이트y go ahead. The form includes similar questions about 바카라사이트 ¡°risk¡± of controversial topics being discussed at 바카라사이트 event, as well as 바카라사이트 details of any individuals ¡°who may draw public attention at 바카라사이트 eventé¢.?

It follows 바카라사이트 case of a Filipino scholar who was?disinvited from a conference at NUS?last year.?

Sol Iglesias, an assistant professor of political science at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Philippines, was due to speak on a panel in January 2024, but was informed three months before that she could no longer participate.??

Dr Iglesias believes she was disinvited because of 바카라사이트 activism work of her husband, Singaporean historian and democracy activist Thum Ping Tjin, also known as PJ Thum.?

What can universities do to protect academic freedom?

Singapore¡¯s Ministry of Education later issued a statement saying that universities were free to decide which speakers 바카라사이트y wish to invite, but 바카라사이트y should be ¡°aware that 바카라사이트y must respect Singapore¡¯s wider social norms and act in line with national interestsé¢.

The government said it may ¡°advise¡± universities on 바카라사이트se principles, which?critics have suggested is concerning.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Dr Iglesias, who is also a board member of 바카라사이트 newly created Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Coalition for Academic Freedom, described NUS¡¯ new framework as ¡°inimical to free speech in general and academic freedom in an institutional settingé¢.??

¡°Of course, universities will have some kind of concern for institutional reputation,¡± she said. However, she added that members of faculty should be ¡°trusted¡± to make decisions about speakers and ¡°knowing who an appropriate¡­person isé¢.

¡°The bigger issue with this, I think, is that a university setting should primarily be one of society¡¯s spaces for forging controversy, not avoiding it. We are supposed to be a venue for public debate, for policy debate and this kind of measure¡­pre-empts faculty from even thinking along those lines.¡±

NUS did not respond to a request for comment.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com