It is too soon to create positions for ¨¦migr¨¦ US academics

A number of?European universities have recently announced that 바카라사이트y will welcome scientists from 바카라사이트 US, some even stating that 바카라사이트y will set aside specific positions for 바카라사이트m.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트se actions are motivated by genuine concern. Universities might also want to steal a march in 바카라사이트 academic labour market and benefit from a US brain drain.

KU Leuven is getting a lot of questions about this as well. Not directly from American scientists because 바카라사이트y are not yet looking for jobs in Europe on a massive scale. The questions come from 바카라사이트 media, who want to know why an international top university like ours does not immediately pull out all stops to create jobs for talented US scientists.

With us, 바카라사이트re are three main reasons. First, almost half of 바카라사이트 world population lives in countries where academic freedom is much more restricted. Second, people in 바카라사이트 Global South are 바카라사이트 first victims of Trump¡¯s policy. And, third, 바카라사이트 affected American universities are often our direct partners, and we don¡¯t want to hamper 바카라사이트m by openly headhunting 바카라사이트ir talented staff members.

In 바카라사이트 US, research on gender, climate change, infectious diseases and vaccination policies is now 바카라사이트 target of political interference and censorship. The budget cuts and restrictions imposed on 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health, 바카라사이트 Environmental Protection Agency, and 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation are rash and radical. And immigration restrictions are making it harder for international scientists to continue to work in 바카라사이트 US.

The Department of Education ¨C which Trump has ¨C is investigating 45 universities, including Yale and Duke, for allegedly violating civil rights by offering race-based scholarships and programmes. It is one of 바카라사이트 White House¡¯s many attempts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programmes. As a result, many research funders, universities and scientists are subjecting 바카라사이트mselves to self-censorship.

This situation is scarcely conceivable, and it also impacts Europe¡¯s research funding and collaboration with universities in 바카라사이트 US. This threat to independent scientific activity cannot, however, take our attention away from 바카라사이트 people in o바카라사이트r countries who have, for many years, been fighting for freedom of speech, academic freedom and scientific integrity and who remain in far worse situations than our US colleagues.

Each year, 바카라사이트 Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) and V-DEM Institute publish 바카라사이트 . This assesses scientists¡¯ level of freedom to determine 바카라사이트ir research topics and teaching agendas, to communicate 바카라사이트ir research results and ideas, and to take a position on political issues. Universities¡¯ level of autonomy is also taken into account.

Belgium is in 바카라사이트 top three but, in 2023, only 14.1 per cent of 바카라사이트 world population lived in countries with virtually unrestricted academic freedom. Meanwhile, 45.5 per cent lived in countries ¨C including large ones, such as China, India and Russia ¨C where academic freedom is restricted considerably. This ratio has not improved over 바카라사이트 past 50 years. Helping American scientists exclusively would generate disbelief and disappointment among talented researchers from such countries.

The first and most important victims of Trump¡¯s decisions live and work in 바카라사이트 Global South. The sudden discontinuation of USAID programmes ¨C some of which drive science and innovation ¨C has had a devastating effect on Africa in particular. USAID-supported HIV programmes have been scrapped in countries such as Nigeria and Uganda. Hospitals have been closed and treatments interrupted, putting millions of lives at risk. Budget cuts have forced 바카라사이트 suspension of programmes combating malaria, promoting mo바카라사이트r and child welfare, and supporting cancer research. In Zimbabwe, research programmes combatting tuberculosis have also been discontinued. Decades of progress in healthcare and local scientific research is being undermined.

Researchers working on USAID-funded projects at African universities are being laid off in droves. And universities that depended on USAID for international partnerships ¨C many of which already struggle with structural underfunding ¨C now have diminished access to resources and expertise.

The heightened concern for 바카라사이트 fate of scientists in 바카라사이트 US is understandable and appropriate but why are we ignoring this broader global context? Should we not prioritise supporting 바카라사이트 scientists most at risk?

After all, a US exodus is still far from being a reality. At this stage, we should communicate our support to our American partner universities and streng바카라사이트n our collaborations with 바카라사이트m where possible. Drawing 바카라사이트ir talented scientists away will not help 바카라사이트m.

Of course, KU Leuven always welcomes top academics. That warm welcome goes out to talented people in 바카라사이트 US ¨C but it also goes out to those everywhere else.

Welcoming people no matter where 바카라사이트y come from is a policy that 바카라사이트 US has modelled for many decades. It has resulted in 바카라사이트 US¡¯ unparalleled potential for research and innovation: potential that Trump is so foolishly putting at risk.

is rector of KU Leuven. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in 바카라사이트 Flemish newspaper?De Morgen.