Free academia, free courts and free press are all three cornerstones in upholding democracy and the protection of human rights.
Neither day policy nor short-term economic interests should define what may be researched or taught at our universities. Both those in power and citizens in general need to understand, accept and defend the idea that a free and good society needs higher education and research where there is a free exchange of thoughts and ideas.
In order to increase the stability of democracy, the freedom of education, as well as the freedom of research, needs to be protected in the constitution. An impact change needs to be implemented to strengthen the general principle of academic freedom that has recently been introduced in the Higher Education Act (Chapter 1, Section 6).
In order to secure academic freedom and democracy in a long-term perspective, the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS), the Swedish Association of Universities and University Colleges (SUHF) and the Swedish University Teachers and Researchers (SULF) have decided to work together to bring about a change in the constitution which ensures academic freedom in the entire university's activities.
Proposals for supplementation in the form of government
The form of government, which today includes provisions that the public sector is responsible for ensuring that higher education exists and that the freedom of research is protected (RF Chapter 2, Section 18), should be supplemented with the following:
- A general principle of academic freedom, for example: "Academic freedom must be safeguarded and promoted."
- A supplement to also protect higher education, for example: "The freedom of research and higher education is protected in accordance with provisions laid down by law." The first chapter of the Higher Education Act should then also be supplemented with a wording that the content and working methods of the education may be freely chosen.
Linn Svärd, chairman of SFS
Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chairman of SUHF
Sanna Wolk, union president SULF