Honorary Doctorate Matthew Flinders, a professor of politics at the University of Sheffield, on the future of democracy and on his connection to Utrecht University.
Academic freedom is under threat around the world, including Europe. Rising trends in illiberalism and authoritarianism threaten universities as institutions of open societies. Their autonomy as a condition to uphold academic freedom in teaching and research is weakened as a result of political, financial, and social pressures. How can universities resist these challenges? This requires to advance our understanding of academic freedom, and the trends and mechanisms that put it at risk. The Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) Platform Openness Challenged: University at Risk? launches a series of dialogues to tackle these burning questions.
Since Laura became part of the Dynamics of Youth community's Future Think Tank 'Becoming Adults in a Changing World', she has had the opportunity to make herself heard.