Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Academic Freedom in Europe: A Preliminary Comparative Analysis

  • Article
  • Published:
Higher Education Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using comparative data from 23 states within the European Union (EU), this paper is a preliminary assessment of the protection for, and (by extension) the health of, academic freedom in the universities of the nations of the EU. The paper examines constitutional and legislative protection for academic freedom, along with legal regulations concerning institutional governance, the appointment of the Rector and the existence of academic tenure, in order to create a composite picture of the health of academic freedom in the universities within the EU nations. Additionally, the paper considers how this preliminary analysis could be extended through possible further research to aid refinement of the results, and thereby protect and strengthen academic freedom in Europe.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Åkerlind, G. and Kayrooz, C. (2003) ‘Understanding academic freedom: the views of social scientists’, Higher Research and Development 22(3): 327–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (2001) ‘Academic freedom: international challenges and realities’, Higher Education 41(1/2): 205–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, D. and Johnson, R. (1998) University Autonomy in Twenty Countries Higher Education Division Evaluations and Investigations Program, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Association of American University Professors. (1994) On the Relationship of Faculty Governance to Academic Freedom, Statement adopted by the Association's Council, June 1994, supplied to the author by the AAUP.

  • Barnett, R. (1997) Higher Education: A Critical Business, Buckingham: SRHE/Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennich-Björkman, L. (2004) Has Academic Freedom Survived?, Stockholm: National Agency for Higher Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berdahl, R. (1990) ‘Academic freedom, autonomy and accountability in British universities’, Studies in Higher Education 15(2): 69–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, R. (2001) Management Fads in Higher Education, San Francisco: Jossey Bass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boswell, T. (1994) Lecture on British Universities 15th September 1994, London: Department of Education, (1994) as reported in R. Pritchard (1998) ‘Academic freedom and Autonomy in the United Kingdom and Germany’, Minerva 36(2): 101–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bricall, J. (2003) ‘University Institutional Autonomy’, in Case Studies: Academic Freedom and University Institutional Responsibility in Portugal, Bologna: Bononia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byse, C. and Joughin, L. (1959) Tenure in American Higher Education: Plans, Practices and the Law, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chait, R. and Ford, A. (1982) Beyond Traditional Tenure: A Guide to Sound Policies and Practice, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chorley, R. (1963) ‘Academic freedom in the United Kingdom’, Law and Contemporary Problems 28(3): 647–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, J. (2000) ‘The academy's freedom, the academy's burden’, Thought and Action 16(1): 69–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Court, S. (1998) ‘Academic tenure and employment in the UK’, Sociological Perspectives 41(4): 767–774.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daughtrey, W. (1990) ‘The legal nature of academic freedom in United States colleges and universities’, University of Richmond Law Review 25(2): 233–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • De George, R. (2003) ‘Ethics, academic freedom and academic tenure’, Journal of Academic Ethics 1(1): 11–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds, H. (1963) ‘Academic freedom and the academic president’, Law and Contemporary Problems 28(3): 602–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2000) ‘Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union’, Official Journal of the European Communities, 18 December 2000: 364/1-21.

  • European Union. (2005) Constitution Of The European Union, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

  • European Universities Association. (1988) Magna Charta Universitatum, Bologna: EUA.

  • European Universities Association. (2001) Shaping the European Higher Education Area, Salamanca: EUA.

  • Gerber, L. (2001) ‘“Inextricably Linked”: shared governance and academic freedom’, Academe 87(3): 22–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House of Commons. (1987) Debate 1st December 1987, Vol. 123, cc771–cc781.

  • Kogan, M. (2003) ‘The Mission of the University’, in Case Studies: Academic Freedom and University Institutional Responsibility in Portugal, Bologna: Bononia University Press, pp. 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwiek, M. (2003) ‘Academe in transition: transformations in the Polish academic profession’, Higher Education 45(4): 455–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lay, P. (2004) The Interpretation of the Magna Charta Universitatum and its Principles, Bologna: Bononia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieberwitz, R. (2002–03) ‘The corporatisation of the university: distance learning at the cost of academic freedom?’, Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 12(1): 73–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMaster, M. (2002) ‘Partnerships between administrative and academic managers: how deans and faculty managers work together’, ATEM-AAPPA Conference, 29 September–2 October 2002, Brisbane.

  • Menand, L. (1996) ‘The Limits of Academic Freedom’, in L. Menand (ed.) The Future of Academic Freedom, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M. and Schapiro, M. (1999) ‘Tenure Issues in Higher Education’, in M.E. Devlin and J.W. Montgomery (eds.) Forum Strategy Series, Forum Futures 1999 Papers, Washington: Forum Publishing, pp. 73–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mill, J.S. (1951) Utilitarianism, Liberty and Representative Government, London: Everymans.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyborg, P. (2003) ‘Institutional autonomy and higher education governance’, Council of Europe Conference Implications of the Bologna Process in South East Europe, 2–3 December 2003, Strasbourg.

  • OECD. (2003) Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2003, Paris: OECD.

  • OECD. (2005) Education at a Glance 2005, Paris: OECD.

  • Pritchard, R. (1998) ‘Academic freedom and Autonomy in the United Kingdom and Germany’, Minerva 36(2): 101–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rochford, F. (2003) ‘Academic freedom as insubordination: the legalisation of the academy’, Education and the Law 15(4): 249–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothblatt, S. (1999) ‘Academic freedom and institutional autonomy in historical perspective’, Conference Proceedings, Association of Swedish Higher Education, Conference Akademisk Frihet -Lärosätenas Autonomi — Samhällsrelevanson Karlstad University, 2 November 1999, pp. 17–30.

  • Raelin, J. (2003) ‘Should faculty be “Managed”?’ Academe 89(3): 40–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius, R. (1975) ‘Tenure and Academic Freedom’, in E. Pincoffs (ed.) The Concept of Academic Freedom, Austin: University of Texas Press, pp. 133–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. (2005) Chair of the AAUP's Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure, quoted by R. Bowen in ‘For the record: born free but in chains: academic freedom and rights of governance’, Academe 91(2): 119–122.

  • Smith, N. (1995) ‘Constitutional academic freedom’, South African Law Journal 112(4): 678–690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standler, P. (2000) Academic Freedom in the USA, retrieved from http://rbs2.com/afree.htm.

  • Stuller, W. (1998) ‘High school academic freedom: the evolution of a fish out of water’, Nebraska Law Review 77(2): 301–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorens, J. (2006) ‘Liberties, freedom and autonomy: a few reflections on academia's estate’, Higher Education Policy 19(1): 87–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tierney, W. (2001) ‘Academic freedom and organisational identity’, Australian Universities Review 44(1): 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. (1988) ‘The Price of Freedom’, in M. Tight (ed.) Academic Freedom and Responsibility, Buckingham: SRHE/OU Press, pp. 104–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (1997) Records of the General Conference, Twenty-ninth Session Paris, 21 October–12 November 1997, Volume 1 Resolutions, Austin, Paris: UNESCO, pp. 26–36.

  • Van Alstyne, W. (1971) ‘Tenure: a summary, explanation, and defense’, Association of American University Professors Bulletin 57(3): 329–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, L. (2000) ‘Academic tenure: its historical and legal meanings in the United States and its relationship to the compensation of medical school faculty members’, Saint Louis University Law Journal 44(1): 51–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Educational Research and Development, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK

    Terence Karran

Authors
  1. Terence Karran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karran, T. Academic Freedom in Europe: A Preliminary Comparative Analysis. High Educ Policy 20, 289–313 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.hep.8300159

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.hep.8300159

Keywords

Search

Navigation