Is a global common reference for academic freedom desirable? Is it possible?

This is the third session of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom. It will focus on the need and feasibility of a common global reference for academic freedom.

The webinar includes two panel discussions with a global online audience.

Programme

12.15 BST - Introductory remarks

Shitij Kapur, President & Principal, King's College London.

12.20 BST - Background paper

Liviu Matei, Head, School of Education, Communication & Society, King's College London.

You can access here Prof Matei's paper.

Session 1: Contemporary challenges to academic freedom: global, regional, national or local? 12.30 - 14.00 BST.

Speakers will explore current challenges to academic freedom in their respective region or country. They will discuss whether existing, new or to-be-developed shared references - such as common conceptualisations, codifications, or regulations for academic freedom - could help address these challenges.

Panel:

• Santiago Amaya, Chair, Department of Philosophy and Co-director, Moral Judgement and Emotions Lab, Universidad de los Andes Bogota Colombia, Colombia.
• Stéphanie Balme, Dean, Sciences Po University College, Sciences Po Academic Freedom Officer, Professor at Paris School International Affairs and Research Director at CERI/Sciences Po, France.
• Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, India.
• Monika Steinel, Deputy Secretary General, European University Association, Belgium. [Chair]
• Adrienne Stone, Melbourne Laureate Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Session 2: What conceptual and practical framework for a global shared reference for academic freedom? 14.30 - 16.00 BST.

The panel will reflect on questions such as: do common global references already exist? Is there a need to develop new ones? How to frame global shared references - as values, human rights, fundamental rights, governance principles, etc.? Is a discussion about decolonising academic freedom necessary?

Panel:

• Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Ghana, Leccon, Acra, Ghana. [Chair]
• Katrin Kinzelbach, Visiting Professor, Transnational Law Institute/Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London and Professor of International Politics of Human Rights, Institute for Political Science, Friedrich Alexander University, Germany.
• Robert C. Post, Sterling Professor of Law, Yale Law School, USA.
• Catharine R. Simpson, Professor of English, University Professor, New York University, USA.

A zoom link will be shared with the attendees closer to the time of the event.

This was the third event of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom.