Closing Academic Space: Repressive State Practices in Legislative, Regulatory and Other Restrictions on Higher Education Institutions

Universities and higher education institutions around the world are facing an increasing array of repressive legislative, regulatory and administrative restrictions to their autonomy. These range from interference with governance structures, staffing and leadership, and excessive financial control, to restrictions on academic engagement and programmes to, at the extreme end, the criminalisation of academics and militarisation of campuses. These types of interferences often severely undermine the ability of universities to freely conduct teaching and research and undertake critical inquiry. As university autonomy is closely related to the healthy functioning of democratic societies, the importance of understanding the extent of repressive state practices extends beyond just what might be important for universities themselves. While autonomous higher education institutions are a critical feature of democratic, rule of law-based societies, as is clear from our findings in this report, they are also institutions that can come under serious pressure from the state.

The purpose of this report is to identify the scope of repressive practices against university autonomy around the world, in order to enhance understanding of both the extent of state practice, and the ways in which restrictions are applied. Its aim is to support stakeholders in ultimately reducing repressive government interference to help universities to maintain their autonomy. We have found that there is a need for increased stakeholder monitoring of legislative and administrative restrictions placed on university autonomy and the development of clear international standards supporting university autonomy. In order to increase monitoring and stakeholder engagement on a set of international standards, agreement needs to be reached on the parameters of university autonomy. We propose that the 1993 UN Paris Principles may serve as a useful guidance for developing both a monitoring framework and set of international standards (see further below).