Academic Freedom

1. Freedom to put forward an opinion informed by scholarship and intellectual inquiry without interference or penalty. Academic freedom allows for independent learning, teaching and research whilst upholding the values of truth, accuracy, honesty, rigour, civility and courage.

2. Academic freedom comprises the following elements:

• the freedom of employees to teach, discuss, and research and to disseminate and publish the results of their research
• the freedom of employees and students to engage in intellectual inquiry, to express their opinions and beliefs, and to contribute to public debate, in relation to their subjects of study and research
• the freedom of employees and students to express their opinions in relation to the University
• the freedom of employees to participate in professional or representative academic bodies
• the freedom of students to participate in student societies and associations, and
• the autonomy of the University in relation to the choice of academic courses and offerings, the ways in which they are taught and the choices of research activities and the ways in which they are conducted.

Search for the Academic Board Position Statement - Academic Freedom and the Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom Policy on our Policy site for further information.