U.S. Academic Freedom Concerns
- U.S. universities are facing increasing government influence over admissions, hiring, curricula, and speech policies.
- SAR has launched:
- A new bulletin tracking U.S.-specific academic freedom developments.
- Zoom calls/webinars for updates and expert input.
- The EDU Coalition, uniting individuals and institutions to defend academic freedom.
- The next U.S. Section General Assembly will take place October 9–10, 2025 at NYU.
Sudan Crisis and Displaced Scholars
- Marking two years of war in Sudan, SAR highlights displaced scholars seeking host placements.
- Fields include medical entomology, communication engineering, and immunology.
- Scholars face general risk and seek positions globally.
Support for Ukrainian Researchers
- The EU’s MSCA4Ukraine program expands to support 49 more displaced researchers.
- Total supported: 174 researchers across 15 countries.
Regional Academic Freedom Coalitions
- SAR supports regional networks in Africa (ACAF), the Americas (CAFA), and Southeast Asia (SEACAF).
- ACAF launched in March 2025 in Ghana.
- ACAF is accepting proposals for African-centered academic freedom research (grants up to $10,000).
Student Advocacy Days
- U.S. students met with 22 congressional offices to advocate for imprisoned scholars in China, Iran, and Belarus.
- Participants included students from 5 universities across North America.
Academic Freedom Index 2025
- New data shows academic freedom is declining in 34 countries.
- Declines are linked to the rise of anti-pluralist politics, including in democratic states.
Fellowships and Opportunities
- NeuroAdapt (Ireland) – Neuroscience fellowships (deadline: April 11).
- CAPRS Fellowship – For researchers with displacement experience (deadline: April 18).
- Sam Pegram Scholarship (UK) – Full LLM scholarship in human rights (deadline: May 31).
- ESI Program (Germany) – Relocation for at-risk human rights defenders (deadline: April 30).