ANNUAL REPORT | 2018–19

Front Cover: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images FOREWORD CARA’S WORK – AN OVERVIEW

Throughout its 86-year-old history, Cara’s Our exiled Fellows remind us powerfully 86 years after William Beveridge and “The UK Higher Education sector is focus has been on helping academics at that academic freedom is not a slogan to his colleagues founded Cara, to rescue facing uncertain times both politically and risk of suffering persecution, oppression or cite when one is told to do something new academics in Germany from the threat of economically with many challenges to the discrimination by bringing them to sanctuary or different, but a vital matter of physical, Nazism, nationalism and intolerance are role and contribution that universities in the UK where they can pursue their mental and emotional freedom and in some once again on the rise and internationalism make to society. In this atmosphere research and scholarly activities in safety. cases, a matter of life or death. and respect for human rights are under it seems clear to me that universities In the decades since 1933, when the Cara recognises that we need also to pressure. Frightened and confused, more and have an obligation to support our own Nazis’ persecution of scientists prompted support academics in countries where more people seek refuge in old prejudices, communities, wider society and also one the creation of the Academic Assistance their work is at risk or compromised. We or turn to ‘strong leaders’ who tolerate another. Cara is an organisation that Council (as Cara was first known), both thus now run regionally-based programmes no opposition. Those who speak out in puts these words into action through the manifestations and the locations of which focus on capacity building and on protest or call for moderation are accused the work that it does to support at-risk oppression have changed across the world, all-round professional development for of disloyalty and betrayal, of supporting academics. I am proud that the University and the functions and responsibilities academics who have remained in their terrorists or even of blasphemy, and face of Edinburgh was a founding member of universities have grown significantly countries or are in exile nearby: Iraq arrest or violent attack. Meanwhile, old of Cara and we continue to support to include widening participation, skills Programme (2006-2012), Zimbabwe conflicts rage on and new ones break out. their work now. Today we have two at- development, partnerships with business and Programme (2009-2013); Syria Programme Amidst the carnage and the rubble, the risk academics on 2-year postdoctoral industry, and public engagement. However, (2016-date). innocent die by the thousand and millions placements and a third is arriving soon. one issue remains Cara’s constant guiding The demands for our help, alas, are driven from their homes. Colleagues across the university are light: the importance of academic freedom. never diminish and we urgently want to Through the shouting, the accusations, also involved with the Syria Programme The modern university has its origins in rescue more people from more countries. the dust and the chaos, many people hardly which delivers workshops to displaced the medieval University of Bologna, which To this end, we have launched our ‘10 x 20’ notice that many universities are also being Syrian academics in Turkey; and we are in 1155 established a charter (the Constitutio Campaign which seeks to persuade 10% destroyed, and free academic enquiry delighted to be hosting and supporting habita), which guaranteed the rights of a of those working in UK higher education suppressed. Facing death, injury, persecution Cara’s first ‘Scotland Manager’, here at travelling scholar to unhindered passage in to commit to give £20 per annum to Cara. or prison, more and more academics are Edinburgh Global. the interests of education and to immunity Please join our Campaign at being forced to flee. The societies they As we face this uncertain future from the right of reprisal. Signed by the Holy https://www.cara.ngo/10-x-20-appeal/ abandon are left intellectually and morally together, we have an obligation to our Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and and help us to help more academics to impoverished, even where they are not forebears and to our successors to act endorsed later by Pope Alexander III, this rebuild their lives and ultimately their also physically damaged. If those academics responsibly and it is important that we charter enshrined in law both international home countries. can never return home to work, that do our part to make the world a better mobility and academic freedom as rights for impoverishment will become permanent. place. Partnering Cara in their global scholars. Nine centuries on, these need just Truth will die, and lies flourish. mission is therefore something that we as urgently to be upheld, and we must do Since 1933, Cara’s mission has been to are fully committed and proud to do.” all we can to ensure that academic freedom help people like this, to fulfil the task set is fundamental to the identity of every out by our founders – ‘the relief of suffering university. Professor Michael Worton, CBE, Cara Chair and the defence of learning and science’. Professor Peter Mathieson Over those years, thousands have been Principal and Vice-Chancellor, saved from conflict or arrest, as well as from persecution just for being who they are – because of their religion, their ethnicity, their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some with them not only the extra knowledge have achieved high public distinction; others and skills they have acquired, but also the “Cara is one of the most wonderful things to happen in my life, have worked more quietly to develop their precious sense of being part of a global skills and to be ready to help to train the community of learning that transcends and I cannot thank them enough.” next generation. When conditions allowed, national boundaries, and serves a wider, Cara Fellow from Iraq many have gone home again, taking back international, purpose.

1 CARA’S FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

Today, under the pressure of events in the share their skills with us. One day, we The work of our Fellowship Programme 8,000 academics) are reported to have been Middle East in particular, Cara is busier than hope, many will be able to follow their over the last twelve months has been dismissed by decree and more than 50,000 at any time since the 1930s. Our Fellowship predecessors and return home, to help dominated by the continuing effect of the imprisoned; and in the course of 2018-19 Programme – the direct descendant of re-build the better, safer societies they conflict in Syria, where many academics still several hundred academics were put on trial the rescue mission that Cara launched deserve. Until then, however, they will need urgently need to escape from danger, but for signing a 2016 petition criticising their back in 1933 – is working with some 300 our help. Our work in 2018-19 would there are many other flashpoints too. In Iraq, government’s policy in Turkey’s Kurdish- Cara Fellows, accompanied by some 400 have been impossible without the strong the security situation has improved a little, majority regions. At the very end of July family members. Our Syria Programme – support we received throughout the year but there are still widespread sectarian and 2019 Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled the third regionally-based programme we from our many university partners, donor ethnic tensions which make it impossible for that this was a violation of their right to have launched in the last fifteen years – is organisations and individual contributors. many Iraqi scholars to continue their careers. freedom of speech, which raises hopes that working with another 130 or more Syrians We are grateful to them all. As we move In Yemen, continued fighting has devastated those who have already been convicted will in exile in the countries around Syria, into 2019-20, we hope that this support will the country and forced thousands to flee. have their sentences quashed and those principally in Turkey, with hundreds more on continue, and that others will join us too, In Turkey, the State of Emergency which still in the trial process will be left in peace. its database. so more can be saved and helped to followed the failed 2016 coup attempt was Overall, we have over 20 ‘source countries’, All these hundreds are now safe, studying, continue their vital work. formally lifted in July 2018, but by then over where violence and persecution have left researching and teaching. For now, they 100,000 state employees (including around many with no choice but flight.

THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME: HOW IT WORKS

STAGE 1: ENQUIRY STAGE 2: SECURING A PLACEMENT STAGE 3: START OF PLACEMENT

INCOMING ENQUIRY FACILITATING A PLACEMENT INDUCTION MEETING

Contacting Cara: Applicants normally contact – With Cara support, applicant identifies potential New Cara Fellows are invited to our offices, often with their families, for a face-to-face induction. Cara by e-mail, sometimes by host institution and mentors phone – Cara encourages potential host to establish Requirements: Main criteria are academic good academic fit, and negotiates funding MONITORING AND EVALUATION status (employment) and package for applicant and any accompanying Every four months we evaluate reports from both our Fellow and their mentor. We offer support if needed to immediate risk (persecution, family members overcome academic or non-academic issues. violence, conflict) Eligibility: After an initial eligibility filter, qualified applicants complete a VISA APPLICATION Return Home detailed on-line Enquiry Form

DECLINED Postgraduate Placement PhD or Doctoral Extension Scheme Post-Doctoral Placement No direct Cara support Cara support In the unlikely event that an academic’s visa SUCCESSFUL application is declined In 2018 our applicants Paid Employment International Placement we seek guidance from HELP OUTSIDE CARA had a 100% success rate immigraton lawyers who for visa applications For academics who are not eligable for Cara may help to start the Fellowship we do our best to offer guidance on appeal process on their finding help through other organisations behalf Travel Arrangements “It’s the “right” of the armed groups to kill us, because we are doctors … Appeal process Many doctors have been slaughtered. Many others had been tortured to death and others had been maimed. I have survived several murdering attempts …” Declined Overturned Cara Fellow from Syria

2 3 Facing continuing historically very high – 76 Fellows being actively supported to from the host university. The Fellows employment or a further placement. levels of applications in 2018, Cara once find their initial placements; were accompanied by some 400 partners Roughly one-third of Cara Fellows are again sought full waivers of any course or – 19 eligible Fellows whose applications and children, for whom a wide variety of female; Cara continues to promote the bench fees and, wherever possible, also are temporarily on hold, for various individual arrangements also had to be cause of female academics, many of whom asked universities to provide additional reasons; made. Cara paid out over £1,300,000 on share all the risks that their male colleagues funding, including for accommodation – 85 applicants at the initial enquiry stage; Fellowship awards in 2018 and committed do but also face additional discrimination in and living costs. In response, most UK – an ‘alumnus group’ of over 47 Fellows, over £660,000 more for disbursement in their predominantly patriarchal societies. universities continued to show their strong many now in academic jobs but still in 2019. support for Cara’s work by offering places, regular contact with us; Since August 2017 over 60 Fellows have cash and in-kind support for Fellowships. – and others receiving small grants and completed their placements. Of those who advice. are still in touch with Cara, and have not yet As of July 2019, we were working with some Fellowships in 2018 also included a growing been able to return home, 21 have secured “Again thank Cara for giving me hope 370 people in all: number of Cara Fellows in France, Germany, paid employment at universities or research and making the life feel beautiful.” Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong, institutes; 19 have gone on to further – 147 Fellows now at universities; in many cases with generous support placements; and others are actively seeking Cara Fellow from Iraq

Hosting a Cara Fellow in the Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University Typical recent appeals for help include: In early 2018 the Dean of Science at MChem students and has developed good – an Assistant University Lecturer in Iraq who witnessed the sectarian murder of Loughborough contacted me to ask if I would relationships with both the PhD cohort and family members by an extremist militia on the streets of Baghdad, and was later be willing to host a 2-year Cara Fellow and help the academic staff. We are currently in the terrorised by the same militia who wanted to suppress his academic activities; aid in his development. This was the first that I process of writing up for publication some of had heard of Cara’s work. I did some research his work on the utilisation of carbon dioxide, – an Assistant University Professor in Yemen who was accused of treason and online and was very impressed with their and he has been able to present his research threatened with imprisonment after the partial destruction of his Faculty by support for academics at risk. I accepted the and represent the University at several national airstrikes because he refused rebel demands that he continue teaching his students Dean’s invitation, and a few weeks later I held a and international conferences in the UK and in in dangerous conditions, and was forced into hiding, unable to support his family; videoconference meeting with Anas where we Europe. In addition he has been accepted as a discussed possible projects and got to know Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. – a Turkish academic who had come to the UK as a Cara Fellow after being forced to a little about each other and our respective Anas’s aim is to maintain an academic career, take early retirement from her job in retaliation for signing a petition in early 2016 families. We exchanged emails regarding the and through his involvement at Loughborough which criticised government policy in Turkey’s Kurdish regions, who was suddenly planned work and a few months later Anas I have been able to mentor him in the many told to return to Turkey to stand trial on a charge of ‘propagandizing for a terrorist and his family were issued with their visas and facets of this role. It has been an enjoyable organisation’; arrived in Loughborough in late May 2018. experience (especially when he brings in some After a couple of weeks settling into their delicious Syrian treats such as maamoul!) and – a Syrian academic who was forced to leave his wife and child behind in Syria and new surroundings, Anas began to work in my we often spend time aside from discussing fled into exile in Sudan because he was wanted for military service, but found he laboratory and his eldest son started primary chemistry, analysing language and family was unable to continue his academic work there either, because of civil unrest; school. life. I am extremely grateful that Cara and – a Palestinian academic who had been unable to continue his scientific work due At first, Anas shadowed one of my PhD Loughborough University were able to support to the near-total blockade of Gaza, and whose daily life was badly affected by students, but it became very clear early Anas and his family. He has had a significant on that he was a very capable synthetic impact on our ability to carry out research the political instability, violence and dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied chemist and rapidly began to establish within my group, and he will be sadly missed Territories. himself as a dependable, hard-working, and when his fellowship comes to an end in 2020. In June 2019 we released a new video about our Fellowship Programme, which is knowledgeable member of the group. He took available at http://bit.ly/CFPVid. on responsibility helping to supervise MSc and Dr Benjamin R Buckley

4 5 CARA FELLOWS – RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• A Palestinian Fellow secured a full- • A Syrian Fellow at the University of they will take up following completion of time position as a Lecturer at Queen’s Bradford secured employment as a their 24-month postdoctoral placement in University Belfast after completing a PhD Postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for September. at Henley Business School, University of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Science, • A Syrian Fellow secured a position at the Reading. with £35,000 funding from the Innovation- University of Cambridge as a Research to-Commercialisation University Research • A Syrian Fellow completed a PhD at Associate in Micro- and Nano-Fibres and Programme. the University of Huddersfield and is Devices. now working as a Knowledge Transfer • A Syrian Fellow at the University of • A Syrian Fellow started a position as a Partnership Associate at the University, in Portsmouth started a permanent job Research Assistant in the Department of partnership with a leading multinational in July as a Lecturer in Accounting and Biosciences at Durham University, after animal nutrition technology company. Financial Management at the same completing a 24-month postdoctoral University. • A Libyan Fellow secured a Permanent placement. Lectureship in Dentistry at the University • An Iraqi Fellow has secured a permanent • A Syrian Fellow at the Chinese University of Manchester, following a 24-month position at Lahore University of of Hong Kong secured a full-time position postdoctoral placement. Management Sciences, Pakistan, which as an Assistant Professor at Nazarbayev Hawraa Jawad Kadhim (Iraq) at her PhD graduation at the University Graduate School of Education University of Waterloo, Canada in Kazakhstan. A Fellow’s Journey to the UK • An Iraqi Fellow successfully completed a PhD in Civil Engineering at Waterloo I got my Master’s degree in Pharmacy from difficult to find any opportunity. Fortunately, I University in Canada, and secured a the University of Aleppo (Syria) and started had heard of Cara and its great work in helping position as a Pavement Engineer at a teaching there. I planned to continue my academics in my situation. I communicated with leading consulting and engineering services academic career as a researcher and enrolled the Cara team who responded quickly and firm. in a PhD programme in 2014. gave me the hope again to continue living my The conflict in Syria reached Aleppo, one of life and pursuing dreams. After a few months • An Iraqi Kurd at the University of the most beautiful and oldest inhabited cities I was offered a place at a UK university to Winchester has agreed a contract for a in the world, which sadly had become the conduct a PhD programme. Not only that, monograph with Palgrave Macmillan, to be most dangerous city in the world at that time. Cara continued to support me through all the published in 2020. The violence, kidnapping, murders and risk visa, travel and accommodation arrangements increased incredibly. Many people have been to ensure I arrived safely to the UK. In facing • A Syrian Fellow successfully completed a forcibly displaced, and dozens have been killed these difficulties and by the help of Cara, I Masters at McGill University in Canada, and injured while trying to escape. learned a great deal of patience and I became and has secured a fully-funded PhD place I went through remarkable challenges in mindful of my strength and willpower to at the same University. my life during that period. Aside from adverse continue forward. family and personal challenges, experiencing Now, I have completed my PhD and • A Lebanese PhD Fellow at Bath Spa A portrait, with the sitter, of Aberdeen PhD student war in my home country was the greatest developed my research skills. This would have University has been accepted to make a Mohamed Zaher Al Bakour by the Glasgow-based artist challenge. The war forced me to leave my never been possible without the help of Cara. presentation at a Conference in Osaka, I D Campbell, in an exhibition organised by the Royal house after a few months of my marriage I will always be grateful to Cara for its support Japan. Society of Edinburgh to raise the profile of schemes which because of the bombs. Therefore, I had to which enabled me to achieve my dreams and provide support to people at risk leave my job and flee to Turkey with my rescued me and my family. If you can give any • A Syrian Fellow at Christ Church, husband as our lives were at risk. amount of money, please support Cara to help University of Oxford, presented at I desperately tried to contact different many people like me and save their lives. the Arab Council for Social Sciences institutions around the world hoping to conference in Beirut on “Power, Borders continue my postgraduate studies, but it was Cara Fellow from Syria and Ecologies in Arab Societies: Practices and Imaginaries”.

6 7 CARA SYRIA PROGRAMME

• A Syrian PhD Fellow at the University of • An Iraqi postdoctoral Fellow at the Our Syria Programme entered its third Aberdeen won the School’s Physiology University of Edinburgh published an year in late 2018 with over 400 Syrian 2019 competition and has been invited article in the Journal of Physical Education academics registered on our database, over to the Physiological Society conference and Sport and has been selected as an 130 of whom are actively engaged in one of dinner for winners. Editor for the Journal Cient Periodique. more of the six Syria Programme strands (activities). The Programme is delivered • A Syrian Fellow at the University of • A Yemeni Fellow at Cambridge University, primarily in Turkey, but also reaches out to Leicester was selected to represent the with the support of the Royal Society, has colleagues in exile in other countries in the University as part of a visiting exchange at been granted a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) region. Nara Women’s University in Japan. Visa, in recognition of their exceptional The Open Society Foundations remain academic potential. the principal funder, providing over $1.5m since 2016 with a further 12-month award in process. In 2018, $425,000 was secured from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation for a 10-month pilot dedicated to Arts and I am Mustapha from Iraq Humanities activities; in early 2019, they invited a bid for a further $990,000 for a As a civic activist, writer and defender of accommodation. Upon arrival, Cara’s staff were two-year programme as a follow-up. minority rights and someone who dedicated always around to support: they supported Many UK universities and their staff offer his life to fight for better governance and with almost every single issue in whatever way vital financial and in-kind support through Participants in the first Arts and Humanities workshop combating corruption, I found my safety under possible, from renting a house, to opening bank their engagement online and in monthly wrote and then signed up to the Istanbul Declaration, imminent risk. At the end of 2017, I was advised account, to finding affordable furniture and Istanbul workshops. Over 150 university committing themselves to work together for the by a friend to reach out to Cara and seek so forth. For someone in a new country and experts in English for Academic Purposes, intellectual development of Syrian society. their assistance. From the moment Cara’s staff culture, having the professional advice from education and individual disciplines learnt about my case, they expressed a true Cara made my transition to happen easier. volunteered as online tutors, webinar commissioned Reports on Higher Education intention to help. Ever since, until my arrival What interests me, among many other things presenters, mentors, principal investigators, in the UK, they constantly made me feel that I about Cara, is that from the moment of my in Syria pre- and post-2011, involving 20 have the kind of support I needed. Cara helped first contact with Cara until now, they have RIV hosts, and steering or working group Syrian academics as co-researchers with me significantly in many ways: to begin with, never left any question unanswered or any members. Over twenty Research Incubation support from Cambridge University’s Cara was essential to find a hosting institution concerns not addressed, before and after the Visits (RIVs) of up to eight weeks each Faculty of Education, were launched at for me here in the UK. Although finding a departure from home. They are, in two words, were hosted by Birkbeck, Cambridge, Cara’s 17 June ‘Meet the Fellows’ event (see placement was not smooth, the persistence of professional and diligent people. Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Kent, Leicester, below). Publication remains a priority target Cara to help eventually brought the fruit. As I I am now confident that Cara not only has Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford, Reading, became ready to leave Iraq, my case worker in saved lives of many across the world, but it Sheffield and Sussex. The total value of Cara made sure that I leave the country safely also helped many to start a new beginning in a individual and institutional support in and arranged for picking me up from airport safer environment and helped them to flourish 2018-19 was well over £500,000. Our Syria and had already arranged for my first week professionally. Programme and its participants owe all our partners a massive debt of gratitude. A number of individually and co-authored Syria Programme papers were published or accepted for publication in 2018/19 in respected international peer-reviewed “I just would like to thank you for your endeavour to make every journals, with other submissions pending. Cara fellow’s experience successful” A Syria Programme special issue of ‘Education and Conflict Review’ will also Cara’s two Reports on Higher Education in Syria, launched Cara Fellow from Syria be published in late 2019. Two Cara- on 17 June 2019

8 9 output from our Programme, to support humanitarian food supplies and agricultural A Syrian Academic’s Story A UK Academic’s Story the dissemination of research findings by inputs towards a sustainable longer-term our Syrian colleagues, raise their academic strategy and ultimately, reconstruction. My name is Adnan Almohamad. In 2009, During the past year I’ve been working with profiles internationally, and demonstrate The second, on ‘Higher Education in Syria’ having completed my Master’s in Archaeology Cara’s Syria Programme, supporting Syrian the intrinsic value of their knowledge, and led by the University of Kent, drew of the Ancient Near East and Egypt in France, colleagues’ work on cultural heritage, primarily experience and expertise to those on lessons from earlier conflicts, with I returned to Syria and worked at the General through workshops held in Istanbul. During responding to the Syria crisis and interested contributions from Palestine, South Africa, Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and one of those visits I was introduced to Adnan in the longer-term future of Syria. Kenya, Northern Ireland, Belarus, Croatia as a University lecturer. When Syrians started Almohamad and was immediately struck by Our Programme also secured support and Serbia, as well as from Syria. The third, demonstrating peacefully, I joined them, clapping his passion for Syrian archaeology. Adnan had and singing for freedom and equality, but the worked with the Syrian Directorate General from the UK Global Challenges Research led by Cara, was based on the findings of the regime began kidnapping and shooting activists. of Antiquities and Museums before the conflict Fund, in partnership with UK universities, two Cara-commissioned studies to develop You could find yourself labelled a terrorist but had been forced to flee the country. to run three two-day Round Tables at the strategies on ‘Syrian Higher Education: without any proof. He nonetheless continued his work, studying Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul, Immediate and Future Challenges’, which Eastern Aleppo, where I lived with my family, antiquities trafficking and the destruction of bringing together experts from across the highlight the importance of support for was for a long time the battle frontline. We Syrian archaeological sites. academic, INGO, NGO, UN, government Syrian academics in exile as the guardians were under permanent threat. You can’t tell an Birkbeck College has a long history of and practitioner sectors. The first, led by of Syria’s intellectual and cultural capital. exploding barrel bomb that you are a peaceful supporting refugees and at-risk academics; the University of Edinburgh, was on ‘Food Reports from each Round Table were made human being in search of freedom and better we have long been a Cara member and we Security and Livelihoods’, and moving available in September 2019, with follow-on conditions, so we fled east, to the city of Manbij. also run the Compass Project, which provides forward from the short-term provision of meetings in late 2019 and early 2020. In 2013, I formed a volunteer team to access to Higher Education for refugees and document violations against archeological sites asylum seekers in the UK. So, when Cara asked in the area. We worked in dangerous conditions about the possibility of Adnan undertaking a with many challenges, and no financial resources Research Incubation Visit to Birkbeck, I knew or even a camera to work scientifically. In 2014, Birkbeck would be supportive. I was right, and ISIS occupied Manbij,​​ putting us at risk again, colleagues, especially Jan Rueger, Head of the seeing innocent people die and everything good Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, demolished. We fled Syria, seeking the safety of bent over backwards to support Adnan’s visit, our souls in the south of Turkey. making him an Honorary Research Fellow in our In Turkey, life and conditions were difficult, Department. jobs limited and wages low. I worked more than Adnan’s visit provided the opportunity for him “There are many checkpoints inside and outside the city … Every week, 12-hour days with no time to think about my to attend a range of conferences and workshops, about two or three people are killed by sniper shootings … Next year I will be academic future. In December 2018, I left my including the Congress of the Fédération wanted for military service, by that time, I need to be out.” family to seek work in Istanbul. I met a friend internationale des associations d’études classiques who told me about the Cara Syria Programme, and a conference on cultural property hosted Cara Fellow from Syria and I joined a first workshop in January 2019. by the Roman Society. He was able to meet It was a turning point in my life. I was awarded a a broad range of scholars at UK universities. grant to conduct research on ‘The Destruction Perhaps the most important aspect of his visit, “I am really happy and blessed to have Cara behind me. You are amazing people. and Looting of Cultural Heritage Sites by ISIS however, was simply the dedicated time to work I am really delighted and thrilled.” in Syria: the case of Manbij and its countryside’, on his research project supported by extensive followed by a Research Incubation Visit to research facilities in London and beyond. Cara Fellow from Syria Birkbeck College and Durham University. I’m honoured to be able to support Adnan’s After more than seven years, the Syria continuing scholarship and Cara’s important “On my last placement day, I would sincerely like to thank you for your Programme helped me return to my academic work. very generous sponsorship and your incomparable support. You have given to my career life. It gave me the opportunity to connect with Syrian and foreign academics, to acquire Professor Jen Baird a massive boost, I feel I am now able to look for the next step with all confidence academic research skills and improve my English. Department of History, Classics and Archaeology and enthusiasm.” Cara is the rope that drew me out of the bottom Birkbeck College, of a dark well. Cara Fellow from Syria

10 11 February 2019: Syrian students protest after jihadists closed many education centres in Idlib province, Syria. OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images CARA SCOTLAND MANAGER: Reflections on the role since November 2018 CARA ‘MEET THE FELLOWS’ EVENT, 17 June 2019

The Cara Scotland Cara representatives, and participants A Cara reception on 17 June at the Royal unexpected threats to academic freedom Manager role is a from other institutions with an interest in Society of Medicine, generously sponsored too, including from universities themselves newly created position, Cara’s work including the Royal Society by the April Trust, attracted over 200 guests where those who held unpopular views funded and hosted of Edinburgh, Amnesty International, and provided an opportunity for many of or who were engaged in controversial by the University of Universities of Sanctuary and the Scottish our supporters to meet our Fellows at first research could find themselves boycotted Edinburgh. Working Refugee Council. We took advantage of hand and to hear their remarkable stories. or marginalised. Even if these were at the closely with colleagues the networking opportunities to firm up It was also the occasion for the launch of moment isolated incidents, such incidents in the London office, financial support for one Fellow and lay the Cara’s new Fellowship Programme video could snowball in the modern world, where my role is to manage foundations for others. And we gained a few (available at http://bit.ly/CFPVid) and for the electronic media could provoke a global Cara’s partnership and engagement across new donors for our ‘10x20’ individual donor presentation of two Cara Syria Programme flash flood of misleading images and half- Scotland’s higher education and research appeal which is always welcome! reports on the state of Higher Education in true, or completely untrue, messages. communities, learned societies and civic Projects in progress include a mentoring Syria before and after 2011 (video recording Concluding with some stories of his society groups. I have been in post for eight programme for Cara Fellows, support with and Report texts are available at father’s experiences with Cara (known months and have greatly enjoyed shaping career development, a lecture this autumn http://bit.ly/CSPRV. then as the SPSL), Lord Neuberger said this new role. in conjunction with the RSE and Research that without Cara’s help his father would There are sixteen universities in Scotland Incubation Visits under the Syria Programme. probably have died in a concentration camp, and I have visited nine of them so far, One of the most enjoyable aspects of the and he, his brothers and all their families meeting university Cara representatives, job is meeting the Cara Fellows and learning would not have existed. So he had a strong Fellows and supervisors and sharing ideas of how, with Cara’s support and the generosity personal reason, as well as powerful moral how we could strengthen and improve our of their host universities, they have regained and cultural reasons, for supporting what partnership. We were pleased to welcome their identity as academics and returned Cara had done and was still doing to help the University of the Highlands and Islands to research. Five new Fellows and their people who had so much to contribute to to our UK Universities Network this year, families will be arriving soon and will be move from countries where they were being which means that fifteen out of sixteen hosted by a variety of universities, bringing persecuted to countries where they could Scottish universities are now engaged with the total of Cara Fellows in Scotland to Lord Neuberger delivering his keynote address, live and work in peace. Cara. fourteen. I’m very much looking forward 17 June 2019 A video recording of Lord Neuberger’s A highlight of the first year was the to meeting these new Fellows and assisting address is available at http://bit.ly/CaraLdN. ‘Cara Scotland Conference’ in May 2019, them to settle in Scotland. And if you’re Two Cara Fellows, Dr Leila Alieva from kindly hosted by the University of Abertay reading this in Scotland and want to get Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, former Azerbaijan and Dr Farah Ali from Iraq, spoke in Dundee. We had thirty-four attendees involved, please contact me – Sheila Mills, President of the Supreme Court and the movingly about their experiences of leaving - Cara Fellows and supervisors, university [email protected]! eldest son of Albert Neuberger who was their own countries and coming to study helped by Cara in the 1930s, delivered the and work in the UK. A video recording is keynote address. Cara’s founding in 1933, available at http://bit.ly/CarFVid. he argued, showed that “not everyone Cara’s new Chair, Professor Michael was asleep at the wheel when the Nazis Worton, concluded the evening’s took over the German government.” presentations with an appeal for funding. Unfortunately, there was no less need today Many universities were already providing for Cara’s remarkable work. The world was generous support, but Cara was now becoming a less safe place for academics. looking also to individuals who shared Even in Europe, intolerant and doctrinaire Cara’s aims, who cared about the governments in Poland and Hungary were persecuted, and who wanted to be more putting academics under threat, to varying engaged in Cara’s work. With more funds, “As a female surrounded by male-dominant culture, I can’t object or say no to any degrees, as was the rise of the ‘intolerant Cara could help even more people to get decision as it is dangerous to go against a family-based gang system.” right’ in many other previously enlightened to safety. A video recording of his appeal is Cara Fellow from Palestine European countries. There were other available at http://bit.ly/MW10x20.

14 15 UK PARTNERSHIPS UK NETWORK UNIVERSITIES, 2019

Our closest relationship is with all the universities in the UK and many more In the course of 2018/19 we welcomed four voluntary annual subscription too, to help members of the UK Universities Network, overseas to help meet the charity’s objective more universities to the UK Network – cover our running costs. We thank them without whose practical and financial support of increasing access to higher education for Aberystwyth, East Anglia, Northumbria and all. Equally, we thank those many members we couldn’t function. We were delighted to international students. A 3-year grant from Highlands and Islands, followed in August of their staffs, who give so generously of welcome four new Network members in the Northern Consortium (NC) is helping 2019 by Swansea – bringing the total to their time, pro bono, to help our Fellows 2018/19, and look forward to further growth to make it possible for academics to escape 120. Network members generously offer and to support our Syria Programme. Our in the year ahead. A full list of the Network from danger in their own countries and to fee waivers and often accommodation work would be impossible without their members is on page 17. study for PhDs at NC member universities. and financial support for Cara Fellows enthusiasm and commitment. We continued our close collaboration We also continued our partnership with the and their families. Most also contribute a with the British Council throughout executive search company Minerva, who are 2018/19. In particular, we are grateful to the supporting two Cara Fellows with a multi- Council for once again providing fee waivers year grant, and are in discussions with them Aberdeen | Abertay | Aberystwyth | Aston | Bath | Bath Spa | Bedfordshire | Birkbeck | for Cara Fellows from Syria who take about a further award. Birmingham | Bournemouth | Bradford | Brighton | Bristol | Brunel | Buckingham | their International English Language Testing In early 2019 we nominated our third Cambridge | Canterbury Christ Church | Cardiff | Cardiff Metropolitan | Central Lancashire | System (IELTS) exams in the region, and for ‘Cumberland Lodge Scholar’. Cumberland Chester | Chichester | City University London | City & Guilds of London Art School | working with us on the first of the two Syria Lodge, the educational foundation in Courtauld Institute | Coventry | Cumbria | De Montfort | Dundee | Durham | Programme reports, on the State of Higher Windsor Great Park, launched a scholarship East Anglia | East London | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Napier | Essex | Exeter | Glasgow | Education in Syria before 2011. scheme in 2017 to accept a Cara PhD Glasgow Caledonian | Glasgow School of Art | Goldsmiths College | Goodenough College | In July 2019 we agreed with the Trustees student each year, for two years. This Greenwich | Heriot Watt | Hertfordshire | Highlands and Islands | Huddersfield | Hull | of the Sir Hans Krebs Trust to continue collaboration was inspired by our shared Imperial College | UCL | Kent | Keele | King’s College London | Kingston | Lancaster | Leeds | our cooperation for a fourth year. The late history as organisations founded in response Leeds Beckett | Leeds Trinity | Leicester | Lincoln | Liverpool | Liverpool Hope | Liverpool Sir Hans Krebs was a Nobel Prize winner to the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany. John Moores | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine | London | London Business School | who was supported by Cara in the 1930s Every year, a Cara PhD Fellow is selected London Metropolitan | London School of Economics | London School of Hygiene & Tropical when he was forced to leave Nazi Germany, to join the existing Cumberland Lodge Medicine | London South Bank | Loughborough | Manchester | Manchester Metropolitan | and the Trust’s awards are funded from Scholarship scheme for doctoral students, Middlesex | Newcastle | Newman University Birmingham | Northampton | Northumbria the sale, by his family, of his Nobel Prize to benefit from inter-cultural exchange and University Newcastle | Nottingham | Nottingham Trent | Open | Oxford | Oxford Brookes | medal. The Sir Hans Krebs Trust/Cara to gain transferable skills in critical thinking, Plymouth | Portsmouth | Queen Mary | Queen Margaret | Queen’s Belfast | Ravensbourne | Fellowships are helping to ensure that future communications, networking and public Reading | Regent’s | Roehampton | Royal Central School of Speech & Drama | Royal generations of biomedical scientists who engagement. Holloway | SOAS | Salford | Sheffield | Sheffield Hallam | Southampton | Solent | South Wales | are prevented from carrying out research in Throughout 2018/2019 we continued our Staffordshire | Stirling | Strathclyde | St Andrews | Sunderland | Surrey | Sussex | Swansea | their own country because of persecution cooperation with the Society for Applied University of the Arts London | University College London | Ulster | Warwick | or oppression have the opportunity to Microbiology (SfAM), who generously Westminster | West of England | West of Scotland | Winchester | Wolverhampton | continue their important work. Cara looks provide support for a Cara Fellow in their Worcester | Wrexham Glyndwr | York | York St John | forward to continuing this work in 2019/20. special field. In 2018/19 we continued our partnership We are very grateful also to Goodenough with the Northern Consortium, a charity College and to International Student House, established in 1987 by leading universities who provide generous scholarships to cover in Northern England, and its trading accommodation costs for Cara Fellows in arm, NCUK, who now partner with 16 London.

“I was arrested in front of my house. I worked so hard for my attorney’s licence, I was doing my PhD, I was buying my office, but everything was gone in a moment.” Cara Fellow from Iran

16 17 INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FUNDRAISING

There is no other organisation like Cara in their positive decision in domestic legislation Cara has to raise new funds every year, • Andrew W Mellon Foundation Europe, but we work with a wide range of and military doctrine. We were also closely to be able to continue its work. We • Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable like-minded international partners, including involved in the preparation of GCPEA’s are enormously grateful to the 80 UK Fund in particular our two US counterparts, flagship publication, Education under Attack universities who contributed £311,000 in • April Trust the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) and 2018, and are now working with our voluntary annual subscriptions in 2018/19 – • David and Elaine Potter Foundation the Institute of International Education’s GCPEA partners on Education under Attack roughly two-thirds of Cara’s annual running • Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF). Recent US 2020. cost bill. • French Huguenot Church of London visa restrictions on applicants from several In 2018/19 we also continued to work Our ‘10 x 20’ fundraising initiative, Charitable Trust Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, with the Philipp Schwartz Initiative (PSI), launched in November 2017 and aimed, • GarfieldWeston Foundation have led to an increased focus on joint run by the Alexander von Humboldt ultimately, at getting 10% of those working • Harbour Foundation placements with SAR and SRF in the Foundation with support from the German in higher education in the UK to contribute • Minerva UK; we have also worked with SAR on Foreign Ministry and a number of German £20 per year, is continuing to grow; as at 31 • Newby Trust placements in Canada. In 2018 we were foundations, which provides funding for July 2019, we had nearly 200 Direct Debit • Northern Consortium again re-elected as Vice-Chair of the New at-risk academics at German universities. subscribers, pledging over £30,000 per • Open Society Foundations York-based Global Coalition to Protect So far, Cara has supported twenty-two year. We will work to increase this further • Sir Hans Krebs Trust Education from Attack (GCPEA), a grouping successful applications in five application in 2019/20, to strengthen our funding base. • Sir Joseph Hotung Charitable of NGOs and UN agencies formed in 2010 rounds, and is now working with several We also received many generous one-off Settlement to highlight the problem of targeted attacks German universities on applications for the donations, including donations in memory • Society for Applied Microbiology on education, particularly during armed sixth round. Several Cara Fellows are now and gifts to mark a wedding or anniversary. • Thriplow Charitable Trust conflict. The Coalition’s biggest achievement working at German universities with PSI During 2018/19 the following foundations, • Whitaker Charitable Trust so far has been the launch in 2013 of a support. Cara’s Executive Director also trusts and other organisations also • Wolfson Foundation project which, under the leadership of spoke at the related ‘Forum for Academic generously provided support: • Worshipful Company of World Traders Norway and Argentina, then developed into Freedom’, organised by the Humboldt the ‘Safe Schools Declaration’. GCPEA’s Foundation in Berlin in March 2019, and has We are very grateful to all our donors; work to persuade more countries to adopt agreed to attend the next session in Berlin in we could not continue without them. the Declaration and the accompanying March 2020. In 2018, Cara also continued its Guidelines continued throughout 2018/19 cooperation with the French funding scheme and by July 2019, 95 countries – almost half for at-risk academics, the Programme of all UN members states – had adopted national d’aide à l’Accueil en Urgence des both. This is already making a real difference Scientifiques en Exil (PAUSE), from which CARA ‘SCIENCE AND CIVILISATION’ LECTURE to those caught up in conflict, with many several Cara Fellows have so far benefited. endorsing states taking steps to enshrine The Royal Society has once again kindly agreed to host our annual ‘Science and Civilisation’ Lecture, which will be given by the distinguished philosopher and Cara Patron, Baroness Onora O’Neill, in late October 2019. Baroness O’Neill was the 2017 winner of two prestigious awards, the Holberg Prize, for her influential role in ethical and political philosophy, and the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, for work which had “elevated the quality of public life and improved the very vocabulary of public discourse”.

“I just wanted to thank you for helping me, building a new life and academic career. She will speak to us about ‘Communication and Democracy in a Digital Age’. It’s the most important thing in my life.” If you would like to attend, please contact [email protected]. Cara Fellow from Turkey

18 19 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2018 AroundAround the the world, world, the the liberty liberty of of many many In 2018/19 most universities continued commitments on awards and programme to pay the funds they were providing for and project work for the year amounted academicsacademics and and even even their their lives lives are are in in danger. danger. accommodation and living costs for the to £2,147,739 (2017: £2,053,886), and TheirTheir hard-earned hard-earned skills skills risk risk being being lost. lost. Cara Fellows they were hosting as restricted Governance Costs were £17,879 (2017: donations to Cara, rather than paying the £15,807). The total net movement of funds SinceSince 1933, 1933, Cara Cara has has helped helped thousands thousands of of Fellows direct. The total value of new was a surplus of £414,061 (2017: a surplus themthem to to escape. escape. We We are are working working to to rescue rescue placements in 2018, including fee waivers, of £181,246). On a cash basis, there was manymany more more now. now. accommodation and other in-kind support a surplus of £594,589 (2017: £159,264). from universities, fell back from the peak of These large surpluses are mainly due to the ButBut wewe needneed youryour helphelp toto dodo it.it. just under £6 million seen in 2017, reflecting advance receipt of restricted funding for the fact that most of the awards made in Fellowships and for the Syria Programme, that year covered several years; but new which is already committed for 2019. awards in 2018 still totalled over £4m, in line Further information is given in the accounts with the 2016 figure, making a total of some starting at page 22. £14m over the three-year period 2016-18. During 2018, the total value of assets As a result of these payments, and of held by Cara’s investment advisers, Investec, funding received for our Syria Programme, fell slightly from £302,334 to £290,237, Cara’s final income in 2018 totalled reflecting market uncertainties at the year- £2,598,478, a further significant increase end, but by 31 July 2019 had more than (2017: £2,230,635). Expenditure and recovered, reaching £318,421.

PleasePlease gogo toto www.cara.ngo/10-x-20-appealwww.cara.ngo/10-x-20-appeal,, andand helphelp usus toto getget youryour colleaguescolleagues toto safety.safety.

SomeSome 400,000 400,000 people people work work in in Higher Higher Education Education in in the the UK, UK, and and more more in in the the UK’s UK’s learned learned societies.societies. If If 10% 10% of of them them were were able able to to give give just just £20 £20 to to Cara Cara every every year year – – £5 £5 per per quarter quarter – – ourour finances finances wouldwould bebe transformed. transformed.

Cara Fellow Nour at Portsmouth with her poster exhibition. CouncilCouncil for for At-Risk At-Risk Academics, Academics, Registered Registered Charity Charity No No 207471 207471

20 SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT BALANCE SHEET for the year ended 31st December 2018 as at 31st December 2018

2018 2017 2018 2017 £ £ £ £ Income Fixed assets Donations and legacies 2,592,010 2,223,074 Tangible assets 4,839 8,781 Investments 6,468 7,561 Investments 290,236 302,334 Gains / (losses) on investments (15,657) 20,304 Total fixed assets 295,075 311,115 Total income 2,582,821 2,250,939

Current assets Expenditure Debtors 221,037 98,559 Raising funds 3,142 3,051 Cash at bank and in hand 1,359,909 765,319 Charitable activities: Total current assets 1,580,946 863,878 Grants payable 1,685,260 1,556,530 Programme and project work 462,479 494,305 Governance 17,879 15,807 Liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (915,338) (628,370) Total expenditure 2,168,760 2,069,693 Net current assets (liabilities) 665,608 235,508

Total assets less current liabilities 960,684 546,623 Net income (expenditure) for the year 414,061 181,246 The funds of the charity:

Restricted Income Funds 706,601 291,584 Unrestricted Funds - general 263,989 247,663 Unrestricted Funds - revaluation reserve (9,906) 7,376

All of the operations undertaken by the company during the current and preceding years are continuing operations. Total charity funds 960,684 546,623 The retained net gain for the year based on historical cost is £ 431,352 (2017 – net gain £163,962).

Auditors’ Opinion: We confirm that the information given in the summary income and expenditure account and the balance sheet shown on pages 22 to 23 is consistent with the annual accounts of the company for the year ended 31 December 2018 which have been audited by ourselves. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 5 June 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

PROF MICHAEL WORTON (Trustee) DAVID URE (Trustee) David Warren BA FCA Senior statutory auditor, 5 June 2019

For and on behalf of Cocke, Vellacott & Hill Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants Unit 3 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU Company Registration No: 00641687 Charity Registration No: 207471

22 23 GOVERNANCE AND STAFF

Mrs Anne Lonsdale stood down as Chair of Cara in March 2019 after nearly nine years in Staff as at 31 July 2019 the role, and Professor Michael Worton, previously Honorary Secretary, was elected by the other Trustees to succeed her. Professor Alan McCarthy was elected to succeed Professor Executive Director: Stephen Wordsworth CMG LVO Worton in the role of Honorary Secretary. Mrs Lonsdale remains a Trustee of Cara. Deputy Director, Fellowship Programme Manager: Zeid Al-Bayaty Scotland Manager: Sheila Mills Middle East Adviser: Kate Robertson President Professor Sir Malcolm Grant CBE Senior Fellowship Programme Officer: Sana Ibrahim Fellowship Programme Officer: Narmin Ali Patrons Fellowship Programme Officer: Laura Puiggalí Mr Greg Dyke Fellowship Programme Officer: Oscar Saunders Rabbi Baroness Neuberger DBE Fellowship Programme Officer: Lucia Simms The Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve CH CBE FBA Fellowship Programme Officer (part-time): Riman Salim Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE Mr Jon Snow Syria Programme Officer:Alice Lubbock Dr Rowan Williams (The Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Williams of Oystermouth PC) Syria Programme Officer: Ipek Velioglu Melis Syria Programme Assistant: Célestine Fünfgeld Syria Programme Assistant (part-time): Chloe Palmer Trustees at 31 July 2019 Chair: Professor Michael Worton CBE, Former Vice-Provost (International), UCL Volunteers and Interns Hon Secretary: Professor Alan McCarthy, Emeritus Professor of Microbiology, Cara could not function without the support of the many volunteers and interns who have so generously given their time to work with Cara over the last year: Hon Treasurer: Mr David Ure, Company Director, formerly Chair of the Reuters Foundation Harbinda Hanspal | Oscar Saunders | Lilla Schäffer | Abutab Abbasova | Sarah Petter | Spencer Corin | Imogen Smith | George Lam | Giulia Tanasi | Evie Ackery Ms Nicola Dandridge CBE, Chief Executive, Office for Students Professor Penelope Gardner-Chloros, Professor of Sociolinguistics & Language Contact, Data Protection Birkbeck, University of London In view of the sensitivity of the personal information that Cara processes, Cara is registered Mr Mark Hammond, Former Chief Executive, Equality and Human Rights Commission, with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Cara’s registration may be viewed at: Visiting Professor, Canterbury Christ Church University https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/ZA066134 Professor Sir Deian Hopkin, former President of the National Library of Wales; former University Vice-Chancellor Ms Lilia Jolibois, Non-executive Director and Member of the Audit Committee of Futuren Group S.A., France, and Board Director of the INSEAD Foundation Mrs Anne Lonsdale CBE, Former Cara Chair, Former President, New Hall, Cambridge, and Cambridge University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Joanna Newman MBE, Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities Ms Tabitha Nice, Litigator in private practice, later non-practicing Chief Adjuster, Specialty, for a Lloyd’s managing agent. “I have been passing through a hard time, Cara was with me in all that time, Mr Nigel Petrie, Chairman of AD Group, a UK technology business helping, supporting, phoning and checking up on me. Mr Stephan Roman CMG, Former Director for South Asia, the British Council A MASSIVE THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for everything” Professor Paul Weindling, Research Professor, History of Medicine, Oxford Brookes University Cara Fellow from Syria

24 (Front Cover) November 2018: A protest in Budapest against the Hungarian government’s education, science and university policy.

Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics) LSBU Technopark

90 London Road KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images ATTILA SE1 6LN

T: 020 7021 0880 F: 020 7021 0881 [email protected] www.cara.ngo

Charity registered in England and Wales No 207471 Company registered in England and Wales No 641687

Middle East Office (since 2008): 101 Uhod Street, Amman, Jordan.