It is time for Bologna to step in and defend academic freedom in Europe

By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In our section on Academic Freedom, Anne Corbett and Claire Gordon suggest that the Hungarian government’s attempt to muzzle the Central European University should be a call to arms for the Bologna Process.
   In Commentary, Mohd Mizan bin Mohammad Aslam encourages the Malaysian authorities to formulate a strategy to counter the radicalisation of university students, given the growing number who have been arrested for having ties with Islamic State. Gary Rhoades says universities must learn a lesson from the rise of populism that has swept the world and commit themselves to bridging the social class divide that plagues the academy and society. Mark Ashwill wonders if Vietnam will be exempt from the ‘Trump effect’ that is depressing international student enrolments at US universities as Vietnam bucks the trend in the latest figures. And Jason Arday says racial inequality has long been problematic in UK higher education and university administrators must be held accountable for advancing diversity.
   In our World Blog, Grace Karram Stephenson writes that panellists at the recent Worldviews Lecture said universities need to do more to tackle societal challenges, promote critical thinking and become more open institutions, in order to address some of the issues thrown up by the political upheavals of the past year.
   Finally, in Features, Maina Waruru raises concern that African students seeking overseas study destinations might shun India following last month’s attack on Nigerian students near New Delhi, amid an increase in violent incidents targeting Africans. Read more...