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Academic Freedom Survey
A tool for a better future. Like a free press and independent judiciary, a healthy higher sector is essential to an open, just and prosperous society; an engine of the skills and ideas a society needs to resist oppression and meet new challenges. When weakened by neglect or abuse, the sector is unable to fill this role, leading inevitably to conflict, instability and social distress. Given this essential role, it is shocking that there is no means presently to measure the health of the higher education sector worldwide. Scholars at Risk is working to fill this void.
The SAR World Academic Freedom Survey/Index aims to be the first comprehensive measure of the health of higher education communities worldwide with respect to core values of academic freedom, institutional autonomy and respect for human rights. An important tool for researchers, advocates and policy makers aimed at strengthening higher education communities and understanding their role in promoting healthy, prosperous, rights-respecting societies, the survey will strengthen SAR's ongoing efforts to provide life- and career-saving help to threatened scholars before they are silenced or forced out, both by increasing transparency as to the conditions they face and by involving more institutions and researchers around the world in this important work.
A prototype survey/index has been developed and is undergoing testing. Scholars at Risk welcomes inquiries from researchers and faculty interested in participating in its development. Scholars at Risk also welcomes inquiries from funding partners interested in promoting a better future by bringing this important initiative to scale.
