Academic Freedom in Irish Higher Education

Rozerin Yasa[1], Joe O’Hara[2], Martin Brown[3]

Abstract

This research aims to examine the views of academics and postgraduate students in Ireland on academic freedom in the context of scientific, teaching and learning activities in their programmes. Brown (2006) states that academic freedom is the right of faculty members and researchers to conduct research and express their views in science fields without fear of restriction. Similarly, in the declaration titled "Academic Freedom and Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions" published after the meeting of the World Universities Service in Lima is defined as the freedoms of members of an academic community, individually or collectively, to acquire, develop and communicate information through research, analysis, discussion, documentation, production, creation, teaching, narration and writing (World University Service, 1988). Additionally, Altbach (2001) emphasizes that the future of universities depends on a healthy organizational climate in which academic freedom can be achieved, and underlined that academic freedom is a prerequisite for an effective university and a core value for academia. It can be said that postgraduate education has functions and purposes such as developing students in scientific research, enabling them to develop solutions for scientific and social events and situations, and enabling them to make in-depth investigations by considering the events in detail with a broad perspective. It can be stated that in order to achieve all these goals, it is important for both academics and students to create a scientific field without interference and pressure and to have academic freedom in order to benefit from their right to produce science freely.

According to Matei and Iwinska (2018), academic freedom is under attack in many European countries, including in the European Union. This research aims to investigate the current situation in Ireland in relation to academic freedom. In this research, wide range of diversity sampling technique will be used by applying the qualitative research method. It is planned to interview a total of 5 academics and 5 postgraduate students from different disciplinary areas. Two semi-structured interview forms will be developed by the researcher to be asked to the academics and postgraduate students. After the answers are received, they will be analysed with descriptive analysis technique. As a result of the research, the views of students and faculty on academic freedom will be evaluated separately and the views of the groups will be compared. Finally, the findings will be interpreted with key findings summarised and analysed.

Key words: Academic Freedom, Irish Higher Education

References

Altbach P. G. (2001). Academic Freedom: International Realities and Challenges. Higher Education 41(1/2): 205-     19.

Matei L. and Iwinska J. (2018). Diverging Paths? Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom in the European Higher Education Area, in Curaj A., Deca L. and Pricopie R. (eds) European Higher Education Area:      The Impact of Past and Future Policies, Cham, Springer.

World University Service. (1988).  Lima Declaration on Academic Freedom and the Autonomy of Institutions of             Higher Education, available at: https://www.wusgermany.de/sites/wusgermany.de/files/userfiles/WUS-              Internationales/wus-lima- englisch.pdf accessed 5 March 2021.

Brown, A. (2006). Academic freedom in Western Europe: Right or privilege? In E. Gerstmann and M.J. Streb              (eds). Academic Freedom at the Dawn of a New Century. How Terrorism, Governments and Culture Wars Impact Free Speech. Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, pp.115-129.

[1] Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection (EQI) DCU Institute of Education, Ireland, e-mail: rozerin.yasa@dcu.ie

[2] Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection (EQI) DCU Institute of Education, Ireland, e-mail: joe.ohara@dcu.ie

[3] Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection (EQI) DCU Institute of Education, Ireland, e-mail: martin.brown@dcu.ie

In this research, wide range of diversity sampling technique will be used by applying the qualitative research method. It is planned to interview a total of 5 academics and 5 postgraduate students from different disciplinary areas. Two semi-structured interview forms will be developed by the researcher to be asked to the academics and postgraduate students. After the answers are received, they will be analysed with descriptive analysis technique. In this research, wide range of diversity sampling technique will be used by applying the qualitative research method. It is planned to interview a total of 5 academics and 5 postgraduate students from different disciplinary areas. Two semi-structured interview forms will be developed by the researcher to be asked to the academics and postgraduate students. After the answers are received, they will be analysed with descriptive analysis technique. As a result of the research, the views of students and faculty on academic freedom will be evaluated separately and the views of the groups will be compared. Finally, the findings will be interpreted with key findings summarised and analysed.

As a result of the research, the views of students and faculty on academic freedom will be evaluated separately and the views of the groups will be compared. Finally, the findings will be interpreted with key findings summarised and analysed.

Altbach P. G. (2001). Academic Freedom: International Realities and Challenges. Higher Education 41(1/2): 205-19. Matei L. and Iwinska J. (2018). Diverging Paths? Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom in the European Higher Education Area, in Curaj A., Deca L. and Pricopie R. (eds) European Higher Education Area: The Impact of Past and Future Policies, Cham, Springer. World University Service. (1988). Lima Declaration on Academic Freedom and the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education, available at: https://www.wusgermany.de/sites/wusgermany.de/files/userfiles/WUS-Internationales/wus-lima-englisch.pdf accessed 5 March 2021. Brown, A. (2006). Academic freedom in Western Europe: Right or privilege? In E. Gerstmann and M.J. Streb (eds). Academic Freedom at the Dawn of a New Century. How Terrorism, Governments and Culture Wars Impact Free Speech. Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, pp.115-129.