Rectors want broad debate on academic freedom

In an opinion piece in the Dutch newspaper Trouw, the rectors, including Wilco Hazeleger of Utrecht University, speak out against, among other things, the ‘political interference’ in scientific debate and education. According to them, there is a ‘growing political tendency’ to ‘actively influence’ the content of science.

A few weeks ago, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) also published a report criticising the budget cuts and legislative proposals that it believes jeopardise the autonomy of scientists.

Campus protests
But the rectors are also very concerned about threats within the universities, particularly the hardening of campus protests and occupations. "Discussions are becoming polarised. Topics are avoided because people find them too sensitive. Freedom of thought and speech is under threat, both from outside and from within."

The rectors insist that a university should be a safe place to explore and discuss everything. There must be room "for difference and dissent". They therefore invite everyone, from students to researchers and politicians, to participate in a broad dialogue in the coming year. "Not to agree without question, but to be able to disagree without the conversation coming to a standstill."

Parliamentary debate
The letter was originally intended to prepare for a debate on academic freedom in the House of Representatives that was to take place on Tuesday evening, but which has been postponed due to the fall of the government.

In the run-up to that same debate, the now outgoing Minister of Education Eppo Bruins informed the House of Representatives last Friday that he is considering anchoring academic freedom more firmly in law.