Higher Education Policy: Academic Freedom in Europe

Higher Education Policy (HEP), June 2009, (Vol. 22, No. 2).
Articles:
Reconnecting the Research–Policy–Practice Nexus in Higher Education: 'Evidence-Based Policy' in Practice in National and International Contexts, William Locke
Australian University International Student Finances, Helen Forbes-Mewett, Simon Marginson, Chris Nyland, Gaby Ramia and Erlenawati Sawir
The Equity Challenge in China's Higher Education Finance Policy, Fengshou Sun and Armando Barrientos
From Space to Place: University Performance and its Built Environment, Paul Temple
GATS and Higher Education: State of Play of the Liberalization Commitments, Antoni Verger
Forum: Restructuring as a Panacea for the Sustainable Development of the Nigerian University System, M Olalekan Arikewuyo
Academic Freedom in Europe: Time for a Magna Charta? Terence Karran:
This paper’s purpose is to provide a working definition of academic freedom for the higher-educational institutions of the European Union. The paper’s rationale is as follows. Firstly, academic freedom is considered a fundamental aspect of the workings of the Universities in the European Union (EU). For example, the Magna Charta Universitatum declaims: ‘Freedom in research and training is the fundamental principle of university life, and governments and universities, each as far as in them lies, must ensure respect for this fundamental requirement’ (European Universities Association, 1988, 1). Similarly, the proposed European Union Constitution explicitly states in Article II-73 that ‘[t]he arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint. Academic freedom shall be respected’ (European Union, 2005, 50). The constitution received insufficient support among the EU nations to be enacted into law. However, if the process of integration among the 27 (and more) member states is to proceed, a document of similar status is likely to be ratified within the next...