Academic freedom and democracy in African countries: the first study to track the connection [The Conversation, August 2022]

Title:

Academic freedom and democracy in African countries: the first study to track the connection

 

Author:

Liisa Laakso

Senior Researcher, The Nordic Africa Institute

 

Published:

The Conversation, 17 August 2022

https://theconversation.com/academic-freedom-and-democracy-in-african-countries-the-first-study-to-track-the-connection-186579

 

From the article:

There is growing interest in the state of academic freedom worldwide. A 1997 Unesco document defines it as the right of scholars to teach, discuss, research, publish, express opinions about systems and participate in academic bodies. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of education and knowledge. 

 

Yet there is surprisingly little empirical research on the actual impact of academic freedom. Comparable measurements have also been scarce. It was only in 2020 that a worldwide index of academic freedom was launched by the Varieties of Democracy database, V-Dem, in collaboration with the Scholars at Risk Network. 

 

Nicaragua approves education reform seen as move to destroy university autonomy [Reuters, 2022]

Title:

Nicaragua approves education reform seen as move to destroy university autonomy

 

Authors: 

Ismael Lopez

 

Published:

Reuters, 31 March 2021

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nicaragua-approves-education-reform-seen-move-destroy-university-autonomy-2022-03-31/

From the article:

Nicaragua's Parliament, dominated by President Daniel Ortega, on Thursday approved reforms that educators warn will weaken the autonomy of universities amid new rules that strengthen the government's control over curriculums, programs and chairs.

Scholarly Article (February 2020) - Autonomy and weak governments: challenges to university quality in Latin America

Title:
Autonomy and weak governments: challenges to university quality in Latin America

Author:
Pilar Mendoza

Published:
Higher Education, volume 79, February 2020
Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-020-00511-8

From the abstract:
"Applying grounded theory to 33 expert interviews about the underperformance of higher education in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico, this study indicated that the historical tradition of autonomy has fostered weak government control, revealing a host of issues common across these countries in their higher education system."