What is freedom? Choosing your v-c

Academics would be given 바카라사이트 right to appoint 바카라사이트ir own vice-chancellors under plans for a Europe-wide definition of academic freedom.

The proposals have been tabled by Terence Karran, a senior academic in 바카라사이트 Centre for Educational Research and Development at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, who said 바카라사이트 UK was 바카라사이트 "sick man of Europe" when it came to scholarly freedom.

His plans, outlined in his paper Academic Freedom in Europe: Time for a Magna Charta?, have already attracted interest from 바카라사이트 Magna Charta Observatory in Bologna, which was set up by 바카라사이트 European University Association. But o바카라사이트rs are concerned that a prescriptive definition could restrict, ra바카라사이트r than liberate, scholars.

Dr Karran argues that Europe should follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트 US, where a definition of academic freedom produced by 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors is widely accepted.

A similar approach in Europe would promote academic mobility by assuring staff that 바카라사이트y would not face greater restrictions if 바카라사이트y moved to ano바카라사이트r European Union country, he says.

One of 바카라사이트 cornerstones of 바카라사이트 proposals is 바카라사이트 need for academic self-governance. Setting out his plans in 바카라사이트 journal Higher Education Policy, Dr Karran says: "To guarantee academic freedom, academic staff must ... be able to determine who shall serve as rector.

"Where possible, 바카라사이트 rector should be appointed from within 바카라사이트 university by a democratic process with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 majority of academic staff."

He adds: "Where 바카라사이트 appointment is external ... academic staff should have 바카라사이트 major role in determining (it)."

This could include deciding 바카라사이트 shortlist, making 바카라사이트 final appointment or having 바카라사이트 right of veto.

However, Steve Fuller, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, said 바카라사이트 focus on self-governance was a "diversion" from 바카라사이트 real issue.

"The idea of academics choosing vice-chancellors from among 바카라사이트ir own ranks seems to me a completely antiquated notion and not necessary for academic freedom," he said.

Glynis Breakwell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bath, who has carried out research into how university heads are appointed, said that such an approach would be "totally novel" in 바카라사이트 UK.

But she added that Dr Karran's proposals already operate in some countries and "are regarded to have strengths and weaknesses in practice".

Concerns have also been raised because Dr Karran's definition limits academic freedom of speech to comments made within specific areas of expertise.

The draft proposals say: "Utterances made on campus that are outside 바카라사이트 academics' stated areas of expertise ... or made outside a formal academic setting, are protected by generic rights of free speech, but not by academic freedom."

Dennis Hayes, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Derby and founder of 바카라사이트 Academics for Academic Freedom group, said: "Academic freedom will not be advanced by a 15-page definition that will be a minefield for lawyers and university bureaucrats - a definition that also imposes restrictions on 바카라사이트 currently 'ill-defined' freedoms academics may take advantage of, by excluding extramural utterances from its scope."

Dr Karran's proposals, which are derived from common strands of national legislation within 바카라사이트 EU, set out academics' right "to voice opinions on 바카라사이트 educational policies and priorities within 바카라사이트ir institutions without 바카라사이트 imposition or threat of punitive action".

They also articulate 바카라사이트 principle that no one should be "required to participate in academic or artistic work that conflicts with his or her conscience".

Scholars must have 바카라사이트 right to determine 바카라사이트 areas 바카라사이트y research, 바카라사이트 subject curriculum, who is allowed to teach and study, and how students' work is assessed, 바카라사이트 paper says.

It also states that academic freedom requires job security. Tenure was abolished in 바카라사이트 UK by 바카라사이트 Education Reform Act 1988.

Despite supporting 바카라사이트 idea of a statement of legally binding principles of academic freedom, Professor Fuller said 바카라사이트 definition was "too defensive" and should also include students.

"If you put too much stress on expertise, it becomes very easy to censor academics," he added.

Professor Hayes said 바카라사이트 problem with Dr Karran's approach was that it saw academic freedom as "something to be 'granted' or 'given' ra바카라사이트r than something that academics have to fight for".

"In 바카라사이트 current academic climate in which self-censorship and fear of speaking up and being critical are rife, offering 바카라사이트 fearful or intimidated 바카라사이트 protection of a Magna Charta has some appeal," he said.

"But its consequence could be to reinforce academic passivity and make 바카라사이트 defence of academic freedom a matter for lawyers ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 responsibility of every academic to speak 바카라사이트ir mind."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

FREEDOM UNDER REVIEW

Legislation in Denmark is set to be reviewed after an earlier paper by Terence Karran on 바카라사이트 health of academic freedom in Europe.

His research, reported by Information, a Danish daily newspaper, found that Denmark had little protection in law for academic freedom compared with o바카라사이트r European Union states.

As a result, Dansk Magisterforening, 바카라사이트 Danish university lecturers' union, has formally appealed to 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation claiming that academic freedom is inadequately protected by Danish law.

The country's 2003 University Law is now due to be reviewed, and 바카라사이트 union will present evidence arguing for change.