#EP4AcademicFreedom

European Parliament Forum for Academic Freedom

"We cannot take academic freedom for granted, we need to fight to preserve it in Europe and the world." Christian Ehler (EPP, DE), STOA Chair

Academic freedom is a universal right and essential to the quality of education, teaching and research. It is a driver of innovation, enhances the capacity of scholars and students to acquire and generate knowledge, and thereby protects societies' capacity for self-reflection. While states and universities throughout the world have long committed to respecting and protecting academic freedom, it remains poorly understood - and is under attack in many places.

To mark the importance of academic freedom, the European Parliament's President Roberta Metsola launched a new STOA initiative - the 'EP Forum for Academic Freedom' - during the conference on 28 November 2022. Among other things, the Forum will be producing a truly original and independent report about the state of play of academic freedom in the European Union: an annual Academic Freedom Monitor.