Lund university recently joined an international network called “Scholars at Risk” (SAR) that supports academic freedom and defends threatened scholars worldwide.
In November, LU paid the membership fee to SAR and is now a member in this network of higher education institutions from all over the world. SAR has set it as their goal to protect scholars who face persecution or imprisonment in their home countries due to their academic beliefs and ideas.
Pär Svensson, from External Relations, explains that there are different levels of activity within the organization: Institutions can choose to be “sleeping partners” or they can become active by writing articles and letters about scholars who are unable to leave their country of origin, creating awareness of these injustices. Moreover, universities can hold lectures and debates with persecuted scholars or participate in the annual SAR conference.
A clear signal
However, the biggest impact a university can have is to host a foreign scholar in a ‘position of sanctuary’, which is what LU will ultimately try to do, as this is, according to Pär Svensson, the “clear signal” the faculties have given to those responsible for the project.
Pär Svensson goes on to explain that the university has been in contact with SAR for approximately three years, while other organizations, such as the “Scholar Rescue Fund” (SRF), were also considered as possible partners in fighting for global academic freedom. In the end, SAR was selected because they work actively with their partner institutions; they provide a good infrastructure and information on how to host foreign scholars. Additionally, other Swedish universities, such as Stockholm and Uppsala university, have also recently joined the same network.
Discuss funding
Pär Svensson notes that the next step in joining this global network will be to “set up an internal working group” that will need to discuss funding so that Lund university can soon become an active member that temporarily provides a safe location for a scholar forced to flee his or her home country.
Today, on Friday 5/12, at 1.30pm, the program will be launched with a seminar in Universitetshuset, where SAR will present itself and its cause with talks, Q&A sessions and a student-led interview with Dr Shirin Zubair, professor of English at Bahauddin Zakariya university, Pakistan.
