Help create a safe haven for scholars at risk
Persecution, conflicts and crises are threatening academic institutions and researchers worldwide. This has major implications for science. Leiden University's Scholars for Scholars programme is helping scholars at risk through crowdfunding.
The Scholars for Scholars programme was established in March 2024 by the research programme The Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a Pluralist World (EPFR). This is Leiden Law School's largest research programme, focusing on effective protection of fundamental rights.
The aim of Scholars for Scholars is to create a lasting solution for scholars at risk by raising funds and providing refuge. These refugee scientists can thereby continue developing their expertise and academic career in freedom despite the difficult situation they find themselves in.
This initiative is a matter of urgency. A report by the Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) concluded that support for refugee scientists was inadequate. Scholars who are at risk appear to have fewer opportunities in the Netherlands compared to neighbouring countries, such as Germany.
Crowdfunding
Of course, offering scientists a safe haven requires funds. For this reason, the founders of Scholars for Scholars have partnered with the Leiden University Fund (LUF) to start a crowdfunding campaign which they hope will raise enough money to help one foreign scholar at risk by helping them to stay in Leiden for one year.
The long-term goal of the programme's founders is to create an environment where scholars at risk have a safe place to contribute to academia. Other faculties, Dutch universities, colleges and various academic and social institutions are also involved. In this way, mutual learning and cooperation can lead to effective protection of fundamental rights.
Ambassadors from Leiden
Five ambassadors support Leiden Law School's initiative, four of whom are affiliated to Leiden University:
- Joanne van der Leun, Professor of Criminology
- Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law and Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Institutional Trust
- Judi Mesman, Professor of the Interdisciplinary Study of Societal Challenges and Distinguished Professor of Social Responsibility and Impact
- Sarah de Rijcke, Professor of Science and Evaluation Studies
- Dr Herlambang P. Wiratraman, Associate Professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada Law School
Would you like to help create a safe haven for scholars at risk or help to protect academic freedom? You can donate here!
Would you like to learn more?
Read the article in the Mare about Scholars for Scholars.
Text: Wouter Geerts
Image: Dollar Gill via Unsplash