Annual Report | 2018–19

Front Cover: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images ATTILA Cover: Front ANNUAL REPORT | 2018–19 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 University of Edinburgh 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,

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