Academic freedom and human rights: new framework for external collaboration

A country-neutral assessment framework will help Utrecht University staff determine whether new collaborations they enter into might conflict with human rights, international law, or academic freedom. With the framework (active from autumn 2026 onwards), the university aims to give concrete shape to its role as a human rights actor, while safeguarding academic freedom.

The new framework is designed to help university staff weigh up new collaborations with external partners. It includes a flowchart that allows staff to work step by step towards a decision.

Individual and organisational responsibility

Responsibility for applying the framework lies, in the first instance, with the individual staff member. The partner involved and the content of the project are assessed to determine whether a collaboration is responsible. Staff are supported in this by their faculty's Research Support Office (RSO). If there is an elevated risk, the project is submitted to a university support team, and in cases involving complex considerations, to a university committee. The framework can also be used to assess institutional collaborations, such as a new student exchange.

"Academic freedom is fundamental, but not absolute"

"Academic freedom is fundamental to a university," says Wilco Hazeleger, Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University. "It allows us to teach and conduct research freely. But that freedom is not absolute, and can come into tension with other values we stand for as a university, such as human rights. This new framework helps our colleagues make those judgment calls, and offers guidance for everyone within the organisation who plays a role in this process."

Country-neutral

The assessment framework is country-neutral, and therefore not intended as a tool to exclude collaborations with specific countries. It is more likely that collaborations with certain organisations within a country will no longer be possible.

A key question within the framework is whether the intended partner is involved in violations of human rights and/or international law. That question cannot always be answered unambiguously. For projects with an elevated risk, the Research Collaboration Evaluation Committee (ECOS) will examine the matter. The decision on whether a collaboration can proceed then rests with the dean (in the case of a positive ECOS recommendation) or the rector (in the case of a negative ECOS recommendation).

The new framework was designed by a Temporary Committee on Human Rights, which was formed in autumn 2025 in consultation with the Deans and the Executive Board. In the meantime, the framework has already been discussed with the deans, the vice-deans for research, and the University Council. All consulted groups were very pleased with the committee's results. The framework was formally adopted by the Executive Board on 7 July.
 

• View the framework.
• For researchers and other staff who will be working with the framework, workshops and other sessions will be organised to answer questions and share experiences.