Summary Report on Activities 2018–2019 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE: FORWARD TOGETHER
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Summary Report on Activities 2018–2019 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE: FORWARD TOGETHER 500 institutions in 39 countries, organized into national SAR sections and “partner networks” with leading associations, making SAR services accessible to scholars and students around the world. Over our first twenty years, this community has helped over 1500 scholars and created over 1200 positions at 300 host campuses, representing over US $20 million of support for individuals. TWENTY YEARS AGO, inspired by the courage of threatened colleagues We will always prioritize assistance for around the world, we said “there ought individuals. But with the level of threats to be a way to help.” Our network was we see today—SAR’s caseload is over born from that spirit, and that spirit 700 scholars—case-by-case action is has motivated our work ever since. not enough. So over the last decade Contents Scholars at Risk (SAR) is a practical, the SAR community has developed a collective way to meet the urgent needs range of activities to do even more. of scholars, students and universities These include SAR’s annual Free to Think Executive Director’s Message 1 under threat. report (which this year has documented over 324 attacks on higher education The Network 2 in 56 countries), student advocacy, “ Scholars at Risk is a legal clinics, regional advocacy, courses, Protection 4 practical, collective way scholar trainings, and academic freedom workshops, all aimed at Advocacy 9 to meet the urgent needs building understanding, demanding of scholars, students and accountability, and increasing security. Research & Learning 11 universities under threat.” As we mark our first twenty years 2020 Global Congress 12 In our first ten years, we developed together, with gratitude to all who core activities providing assistance to have helped, we also look forward: Launch of SAR Europe 13 individuals targeted for their ideas. to welcoming more institutions to our network; to new partners and Supporters 14 These include arranging teaching and research positions for those unable to new supporters who make our work Financials 15 work safely in their home countries, and possible; to doing even more; to helping campaigns for those unable to travel more scholars. People 16 due to prosecution or imprisonment. Looking forward together, Over this period SAR pioneered a new Looking Forward 17 solidarity among higher education institutions around the world, building Give Today BACK ROBERT QUINN what has become a network of over EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1 The Network Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of institutions and individuals whose collective mission is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. The environment in which SAR fulfills now over 500 universities, colleges its mission is increasingly difficult, and associations in 39 countries. placing growing demands on our These are organized into 13 national services. Authoritarian regimes sections with several more forming. on the rise are actively working to The sections are joined by 12 partner restrict academic freedom, while an networks —partnerships with leading unprecedented refugee crisis has higher education networks that help record numbers of scholars seeking extend the reach of SAR activities help. The higher education community to every region of the world. All this Above: Convening scholars and section members for the launch of SAR-Denmark. is responding. Our global network is means more opportunities to help scholars, raise awareness, The voice of the network membership channel for all involved. This allows and demand greater is SAR’s International Advisory for greater coordination of activities protection for universities, Committee (IAC), comprised of across regions, more sharing of best scholars, students, and representatives of SAR sections and practices leading to improved support academic freedom. partner networks. The IAC embeds for scholars, and more opportunities to an international perspective into advance academic freedom worldwide. SAR’s structure and governance and provides a forum and communication Growing Our Network Professor Adam Braver, IAC SAR SECTIONS & PARTNER NETWORKS representative and SAR-United States section Chair, leads a discussion on academic freedom Academy for Research and Higher Education • Mexican Association at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain. for International Education (AMPEI) • Cara-SAR UK Universities Network • Communauté Université Grenoble Alpes • Compostela Group of Universities • Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) • European Students Union (ESU) “When thinking about what it takes to make a more just world, it is always worth pausing to consider the hundreds of scholars worldwide • European Universities Association (EUA) • International Migration, who face daily risks on our behalf to think, debate, share, and challenge Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE) • Magna Charta Observatory ideas. They are not the cautionary tale, they are all of us.” • SAR Canada • SAR Denmark • SAR Finland • SAR Germany • – ADAM BRAVER SAR Ireland • SAR Italy • SAR Norway • SAR Slovakia • SAR Steering Committee Chair, SAR-United States National Section & Faculty Coordinator, Sweden • SAR Switzerland • SAR United States • Swiss Academies SAR Student Advocacy Seminars of Arts and Sciences • Swissuniversitie • UAF-SAR Netherlands and Belgium • Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) 2 3 Protection SAR’s core protection work provides direct assistance to freedom by assisting scholars who are hosts, including four trainings this year directly affected. Together, we helped a for 177 participants. The trainings share threatened scholars, including by arranging temporary record 409 scholars this year, including best practices for hosts and prepare research and teaching positions at SAR member arranging 115 positions. These scholars to graduate from SAR support institutions and a range of other services. positions represent over $4.6 million by identifying next opportunities, in contributed by host campuses and exile or upon return. partners that directly supports at-risk Emergency Assistance Grants Scholars Seeking Assistance from across the Middle East and scholars and their families. SAR also provides gap-filling emergency Due to spreading conflicts and North Africa, Latin America, sub- assistance grants. This year SAR pressures on academics and Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Trainings & Other Services provided 33 emergency grants to universities around the world, SAR SAR currently handles a caseload of Beyond arranging positions, SAR scholars for in-country needs; travel has continued to receive an elevated over 700 scholars seeking assistance. provides scholars with advice, legal for interviews, conferences, or to take number of requests in recent years; referrals, career advisement, and other Universities & Colleges Respond up new positions; visa fees; legal costs; this year receiving 581 new services, and has provided these to or family support for those detained or applications, with the majority from The global SAR Network is responding 383 scholars this year. SAR staff lead facing charges. Turkey and Syria and large numbers to these pressures on academic training workshops for scholars and TOP 5 HOST COUNTRIES HOW SAR HELPS Germany Netherlands TOP 5 ORIGIN USA COUNTRIES 73 $4.6 M Norway The chart at right shows Turkey 115 host direct Canada the journey of a scholar Syria scholar universities support Yemen seeking help. SAR typically placements OPTION 1 Iran 6 177 works with scholars for 3–5 Brazil Scholar Hosting trainings participants Safe Return years before “graduation” SAR refers appropriate from SAR’s direct assistance. candidates to network All numbers reflect 2018-19 levels members for possible temporary positions. 96 OPTION 1 Scholars Apply for scholar graduations TOP 5 RISKS TO Assistance Transition OPTION 2 SCHOLARS Scholars apply or are 33 SAR works with referred to SAR for assistance; emergency scholars and hosts in ARREST / IMPRISONMENT SAR evaluates their situation grants planning and navigating for one (or both) of transitions, including INSECURITY / two options. one of two options. CONFLICT Advice & Other OPTION 2 WRONGFUL Assistance DISMISSAL 581 98 22 New scholar 383 SAR provides advice or universities countries HARASSMENT / applications Opportunities THREATS scholars assistance with relocation, assisted integration and adjustment, KILLING / DISAPPEARANCE job skills or other services. 4 5 Protection SCHOLARS HOSTED “Thank you very much, you During the 2018–2019 academic year, host campuses and other partners created helped me to breathe and positions for the scholars listed below by their discipline and country. The list work with a clean mind. The includes scholars whose positions commenced that year, positions arranged that things that you are doing, will be taken up shortly, as well as those offered positions which have not yet saving innocent people commenced due to arrest, travel restrictions, visa denials, or other external factors. around the world, is priceless. It is so valuable, so important.” Arts & Humanities (23) Law (Burundi) Cultural Anthropology (Turkey) Archaeology (Iran) Law & Human Rights (China) Cultural Anthropology (Turkey) – A scholar of chemistry education Archaeology (Syria) Law & Human Rights (Iran) Development Economics (Turkey) from Turkey at a SAR member Archaeology & Anthropology (Iraq) Law & Human Rights (Rwanda) Development Studies & Food university