NZ Initiative on academic freedom
The NZ Initiative has published a thorough report on academic freedom. I’ll quote some data, and then their recommendations:
- In the US deplatforming attempts have increased 600% from 20 to 140
- In the US sanctioning attempts against professors has increased over 100% from 10 to 200
- Internal surveys at Auckland University found only 15% of law staff and 36% of science staff agreed they could respectfully voice their views without fear of any negative impact
- In the US the ratio of left academics to right academics has gone from 2:1 to 6:1
- In the UK the ratio of left academics to right academics has gone from 3:2 to 7:1
- Confidence in higher education in the US has dropped by 37% amongst Republicans and 16% amongst Independents
Their recommendations include:
- An annual audit of New Zealand universities’ performance in upholding their obligations to academic freedom performed by a Director of Free Speech and Academic Freedom or (DFSAF), the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) or the Minister for Tertiary Education.
- An academic freedom survey of both students and academics at New Zealand universities.
- Step back from engagements with well-documented links to the CCP and the People’s Liberation Army while continuing to engage with China in other areas of higher education and advanced research
- Ceasing partnerships with military- linked universities
- Anyone entering into a position of significant administrative power in our universities should be required to attend training in the basics of free speech theory and in universities’ legal obligations to academic freedom.
- Strengthen the elements of internal democracy that still exist in our universities
I hope the Government and the universities take these up.