Ghent University has expressed concern over recent actions by the US Government under Donald Trump, which it believes threaten the academic freedom and autonomy of universities.
Academics and students travelling to the US are warned about heightened border controls and risks associated with criticising the US Government.
Researchers from Ghent University are advised to consult with either the North America Platform or the human rights policy team before addressing sensitive subjects like diversity or climate policy, and to avoid hasty responses.
Topics such as climate change, gender, and diversity are increasingly censored in the US, with research in these areas struggling to secure funding or be freely shared.
In response to these developments, ALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, has issued a statement expressing serious concerns over the freezing of billions in federal research funding and censorship surrounding issues like climate change, gender, and diversity.
The University of Ghent has endorsed the ALLEA statement and stresses its strong opposition to political interference in its education and research.
Moreover, new collaborations with US institutions must be evaluated against Ghent’s human rights policy, focusing on academic freedom, non-discrimination, and human rights.
The university also advises researchers to store sensitive data exclusively on Ghent University servers to prevent censorship or data loss.
