Free academia, free courts, and a free press are all three cornerstones in maintaining democracy and protecting human rights.
Neither current politics 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 protect the idea that a free and good society requires higher education and research where there is a free exchange of thoughts and ideas.
To increase the stability of democracy, freedom of education, as well as freedom of research, needs to be protected in the constitution. A consequential amendment 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 University and Higher Education Association (SUHF) and the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers (SULF) have decided to work together to bring about an amendment to the constitution that secures academic freedom in all higher education operations.
Proposal for additions to the Instrument of Government
The instrument of government, which currently includes provisions stating that the public sector shall be responsible for ensuring that higher education exists and that freedom of research is protected (RF Chapter 2, Section 18), should be supplemented with the following:
- A general principle about academic freedom, for example: “Academic freedom shall be protected and promoted.”
- An addition to also protect higher education, for example: "The freedom of research and higher education is protected in accordance with provisions announced by law." The first chapter of the Higher Education Act should then also be supplemented with a wording stating that the content and working methods of education may be freely chosen.
Linn Svärd, Chairwoman of the Swedish Federation of Social Sciences
Astrid Söderbergh Widding, chairwoman of SUHF
Sanna Wolk, President of the Federation SULF