Academic freedom focus: Forthem partners fight together!
Academic freedom focus: Forthem partners fight together!
On May 30, 2025, the Presidency Meeting of the Forthem Partner Universities took place in Palermo, in which president and rectors of nine partner institutions, including the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The focus of the event was a joint explanation of the defense of academic freedom, which was passed with the aim of securing the independence and integrity of university education and research in Europe and beyond. This meeting, such as , was reported against the background of an increasing threat to freedom and Apprenticeship instead.
The problem lies, among other things, that state actors in many countries question the standards and the basic understanding of scientific work. Such developments are worrying because political and commercial interests are often placed on the need for independent research. The reports of restrictions on academic freedom through cuts in funding, especially in the social and humanities, are particularly alarming. In addition, terminations of long-term projects that deal with environmental and climate issues endanger the integrative goals of the scientific community.
The role of freedom of science
The importance of freedom of science was also emphasized by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir. In a meeting with representatives of the alliance of the science organizations, in which the President of the Helmholtz community, Otmar Wiestler, was also present, Özdemir emphasized the essential role of freedom of science for social and economic progress. Restrictions of this freedom are considered to be restrictions on democracy. Özdemir offers researchers who cannot work freely in their homeland, perspectives in the German science system, Helmholtz.de
The minister called for strengthening the research location of Germany and the European research area. Wiestler, on the other hand, pointed out the need for international cooperation in order to be able to tackle global challenges, in particular climate change and biomedical questions. To achieve this, intensive and free global cooperation is essential.
Diverse initiatives to promote freedom and dialogue
A concrete approach to promoting academic freedom and open dialogue is followed by Forthem alliance. The aim is to train open, creative and responsible citizens. In May 2025, the Forthem Democracy Week took place, in which students from the partner universities as well as young people from Ukraine and the Balkans took part. The aim of this event was to draw political decision -makers on topics such as disinformation, authoritarianism, right to vote and inequality.
The partners of Forthem alliance confirmed their commitment to academic freedom and European university. International cooperation in teaching and research is sought to meet social challenges. Research data should be seen as a common good that is publicly accessible in order to create a safe and supportive space for open dialogue. The common goal of these initiatives remains the defense of the principles that ensure the future of science, education and democratic societies in Europe and beyond
The challenges with which academic freedom is confronted today require combined efforts from science and politics to guarantee free and independent research in the future. Therefore, the cooperation between the European universities and political decision -makers have a key role.
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| Ort | Palermo, Italien |
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