Launch of Scholars at Risk Finland Section
Finnish universities have established a collaboration network whose aim is to protect persecuted researchers and promote the freedom of science and research. The founding members of the Scholars at Risk network are 10 Finnish universities, among them the University of Turku. Together with Åbo Akademi University, the University of Turku is the joint chair of the network for its first term. SAR is an international network of more than 460 higher education institutions in 35 countries working to protect threatened scholars and promote academic freedom. The meeting was convened by Universities Finland UNIFI, which will act as the secretariat of the Finnish section in a pilot phase of three years.
— Universities Finland UNIFI shares with Scholars at Risk a belief in the crucial role of the university in advancing public discussion and reasoned debate, said Dr. Leena Wahlfors, Executive Director of UNIFI. — In coming together to launch the Scholars at Risk Finland section, Finnish higher education institutions express their solidarity and support for colleagues in situations where public discussion, reasoned debate and academic freedom are repressed, and reaffirm their commitment to promoting the free exchange of ideas.
The launch of the SAR-Finland Section represents the culmination of several years of partnership between Finnish higher education institutions and the global SAR Network. SAR 'sections' are a means of engaging national institutions in that global effort, and coordinating national and local-level activities in support of academic freedom and higher education values.
— We are delighted to mark the launch of the SAR-Finland Section. In joining Scholars at Risk, Finnish higher education institutions are sending a strong message of solidarity to scholars facing threats to their lives and their liberty because of who they are and what they do. At a time when SAR is receiving more requests for assistance from scholars than ever before, Finnish universities' support will help to make a difference, said SAR's European Director Sinead O'Gorman.
The founding members of the SAR-Finland Section are the University of Turku, Aalto University, Åbo Akademi University, Hanken School of Economics, Lappeenranta University of Technology, University of the Arts Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, and University of Tampere.
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