Nordic Conference on Academic Freedom

Schedule

Thursday 4 March – Domus Academica, University of Oslo (Campus Downtown)

09:00-10:00   Registration
10:00-17:00  Plenary and parallel sessions

Friday 5 March – Georg Sverdrups hus (University library), University of Oslo (Campus Blindern)

09:00-16:00   Plenary and parallel sessions

Programme to be announced.

Background

Academic freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies and a prerequisite for high-quality research and education. While the Nordic countries are often perceived as global leaders in safeguarding academic freedom, the concept is under increasing pressure; institutionally, politically, and culturally.

The European Parliament’s yearly Academic Freedom Monitor highlights the introduction of undue restrictions on institutional autonomy, the undermining of academic self-governance, the worsening of academic working conditions, the inappropriate use of public funding as a means of political pressure, and the tendency of governments to exclude academics and students from higher education policy-making.

Recent developments in various parts of the world, including overt political attacks on universities and researchers in the United States and parts of Europe, highlight the urgent need to re-examine the frameworks that protect academic freedom. At the same time, internal challenges within our own systems – such as marketization, managerialism, digital governance, and restrictions on institutional autonomy – call for critical reflection.

Purpose/Aims

1. To explore whether a distinct Nordic model of academic freedom exists, and if so, what defines it.
2. To identify concrete actions needed to safeguard and strengthen academic freedom in the Nordic countries.
3. To lay the foundations for a Nordic school of thought on academic freedom.

Conference Structure

The conference programme will combine plenary keynote lectures with thematic parallel sessions and targeted sessions for early-career researchers (ECRs).

The first two thematic tracks will each be introduced by keynote lectures, followed by thematic sessions. In addition, the programme includes cross-cutting sessions specifically addressing structural challenges to academic freedom experienced by early-career researchers and junior staff.

Themes and Tracks

Plenary sessions

1. Global and Nordic challenges
2. What can Nordic governments do to safeguard and strengthen scientific research and academic freedom?
3. The global perspective
4. The rectors’ and unions’ meeting

Researchers' tracks

1. The Nordic Model of Academic Freedom
2. Law and Institutional Autonomy
3. Employment, Funding and the Conditions of Academic Freedom
4. Governance, Teaching and the Politicisation of Academic Knowledge

Cross-Cutting (parallel) sessions 

1. Building sustainable democracies with science, education and crucial freedoms
   How do science, education and culture contribute to sustainable democracies—and what freedoms do they depend on? This session explores the connections between academic freedom, artistic freedom and freedom of expression, and how these can be defended together (UNESCO).
2. Academic Freedom for precarious early-career researchers
3. PhD Workshop: Providing confidential and trust-based spaces for PhDs
4. Roundtable Discussion: Academic Freedom in Nordic Micro-Societies: Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Sámi community 
   This session aim to discuss conditions for academic freedom in small and closely interconnected societies, where universities, researchers, political institutions, communities and economic actors may be particularly interdependent.
5. The Nordics and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) 
   How can the Nordic countries help safeguard and strengthen the fundamental values of higher education across Europe? Bringing together European policy, trade union and national perspectives, this session explores how cooperation within the EHEA can advance academic freedom, institutional autonomy and staff and student participation in governance. The discussion focuses on turning shared Nordic commitments into practice, and on the responsibilities of our governments, universities and the academic community.
6. Campus activism – academic freedom or politicization of universities?
   Lessons to be learned from the Palestine demonstrations
7. Academic freedom as a labour law right (contractual protection) – possibilities and challenges in a Nordic context
   In this session we explore the Canadian model, where academic freedom is included in academics’ labour contracts, and discuss in what way this can be relevant for Nordic countries.
8. Securing responsible research conduct as requisite for academic freedom
   In this session we wish to put the academic responsibility for ethics and scientific standards that follows academic freedom under scrutiny.
9. The Freedom to learn – an integral part of academic freedom?
10. A Nordic safe haven? Protecting academic freedom beyond borders: From principle to practice
    
     

Practical information/Sign up

Information about accommodation, conference fee, meals and so on will be announced in due time, but please keep the date as the terms for participation and a possibility to register has not yet been set up. We encourage you to state your interest and receive updates by registering your contact details here:

Sign up for updates

Please provide your contact details to state your interest and receive updates about the conference.

• Registration form

 

Organizing the Conference

The following trade unions are co-organizers of this conference:

• Norwegian Associations of Researchers (Forskerforbundet; Norway)
• The Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers (SULF; Sweden)
• DM University (Denmark)
• Association of University Teachers (Félag háskólakennara; Iceland)
• State University Professors’ Union (Félag prófessora við ríkisháskóla; Iceland)
• The Union of Research Professionals (Tieteentekijät; Finland)
• Trade Union of Education (OAJ; Finland)
• The Faroese Union of Masters and Academics (Magistarafelag Føroya)

A working group with representatives from these unions coordinates the conference.

Contact information

Norway (main organizers)

Special Adviser Jon Wikene Iddeng,
jon.wikene.iddeng@forskerforbundet.no

Chief Adviser/Head of International Affairs Jorunn Dahl Norgård, jorunn.dahl.norgaard@forskerforbundet.no

Denmark

Chair of DM University Brian Arly Jacobsen, brianj@hum.ku.dk
Vice Chair of DM University Frederik Hertel, fhl@business.aau.dk 

Sweden

Head of Policy and International Affairs Karin Åmossa, ka@sulf.se

Finland

Leading Special Advisor Hanna Tanskanen, hanna.tanskanen@oaj.fi 
Senior Advisor Miia Ijäs-Idrobo, miia.ijas@tieteentekijat.fi 

Iceland

Professor Henry Alexander Henrysson, hah@hi.is
Associate Professor Kolbeinn Hólmar Stefánsson, kolbeinn@hi.is

Faroe Islands

Assistant professor Elisabeth Skarðhamar Olsen, elisabetho@setur.fo
 

Co-partners