Academic freedom in Europe: online event organised by STOA in collaboration with EUA on 9 November
21 October 2021
This conference is organised by STOA (Panel of the Future of Science and Technology) in collaboration with EUA on 9 November 2021, at 15.00 CET. It seeks to clarify the definition of academic freedom, to frame the challenges it faces within the context of the EU and to identify options for addressing them.
Academic freedom is recognised, alongside freedom of the arts and scientific research, under Article 13 of the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights. While the broad principle is widely appreciated, its precise meaning can vary in different situations, often depending on the specific challenges. These challenges may have political, socio-cultural, financial and institutional dimensions, which can take different forms over time and across geographic and cultural contexts, and can vary according to their manifestation at individual, group, institutional and (inter)national levels.
Event programme:
15:00 - 15:10 Welcome
Eva KAILI, MEP and Chair of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
Klavdija KUTNAR, President of the Council for Higher Education of the Republic of Slovenia and Rector of the University of Primorska, on behalf of the EU Slovenian Presidency
15:10 - 15:20 Introduction
Christian EHLER, MEP and First Vice-Chair of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
15:20 - 15:55 Panel 1: Scene setting
Kurt DEKETELAERE, Professor of Environmental Law at KU Leuven and Secretary General of LERU, presenting the LERU advice paper 'Academic freedom as a fundamental right'
Liviu MATEI, Provost Central European University (CEU)
15:55 - 16:30 Panel 2: What can be done?
Ivars IJABS, MEP and Second Vice-Chair of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
Jean-Eric PAQUET, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), European Commission
Amanda CROWFOOT, Secretary-General, European University Association (EUA)
Further panellists TBC
16:30 - 16:50 Audience Q&A
16:50 - 17:00 Closing remarks
Christian EHLER, MEP and First Vice-Chair of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
Moderator: Robert-Jan SMITS, President of the Executive Board of Eindhoven University of Technology and Special Advisor at the European Research Council (ERC)
The event will be held in English only, without interpretation. The event will be webstreamed on the website of the European Parliament.
