Scholars at Risk
Scholars at Risk is an international network of academic institutions organized to support and defend the principles of academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars around the world. As of 2024, network membership is reported as including over 650 higher educational institutions in over 40 countries.
History
Scholars at Risk was founded as part of a Human Rights Program at the University of Chicago in 1999 where it launched with a large conference in June 2000. It has its headquarters in the Greenwich Village campus of New York University. Rob Quinn is the executive director of Scholars at Risk.In 2001, Scholars at Risk joined with other international education and human rights organizations to launch the Network for Education and Academic Rights. When NEAR disbanded SAR continued this work through its Academic Freedom Media Review, Scholars-in-Prison Project and Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.
In 2002, SAR partnered with the Institute of International Education which was then establishing IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund. The Fund provides financial support to scholars facing grave threats so that they may escape dangerous conditions and continue their academic work in safety.
In 2003, the network headquarters relocated from the University of Chicago to the New York City campus of New York University. In 2005, SAR and partners began organizing SAR 'sections' and 'partner networks' around the world, building a global community pledged to help scholars and promote academic freedom everywhere.
From 2007 to 2010, SAR led a series of workshops to provide a safe, open forum for academics and advocates from around the world to discuss the regional dimensions of academic freedom and the challenges faced, and to develop joint responses. These led to the development of an academic freedom curriculum and in 2011 to the Academic Freedom Advocacy Team, which researched protection for academic freedom under international human rights law.
In 2012, SAR launched the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, through which volunteer researchers document attacks on higher education in specific countries or regions which are then published in a report. The first Free to Think report was published in 2015 and since then it has been published annually.
In 2014, SAR formalized the Student Advocacy Seminar, an initiative through which faculty researchers help students develop research and advocacy skills while investigating attacks on higher education communities.
Activities
SAR's activities are organized under three main pillars: Protection, Advocacy and Learning.Programs
The Scholars at Risk network operates a variety of programs aimed at responding and protecting threatened scholars, advancing academic freedom, and engaging global communities in human rights advocacy. These programs, offered by universities and institutions, aim to create a meaningful impact within the university space. As part of its broader efforts SAR also works to support displaced scholars, offering fellowships, opportunities for relocation, and other forms of assistance.One example of this is the Scholars at Risk program at Harvard University run through Harvard that offers similar initiatives as the SAR Network through academic fellowships. The Harvard program emphasizes the consequences of a Scholars ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, identity, or political opinions as a risk factor. SAR Harvard relies on private donors to ensure its advocacy and protection for scholars.
SAR programs show how universities are increasingly stepping into roles that go beyond research and education. Scholars like Paul Gready and Emma Jackson have researched this shift, and have pointed out the ways academic institutions are becoming active protectors of individuals and core values, such as human rights and academic freedom. By offering fellowships and creating platforms for advocacy, universities are not just responding to crises, but are also helping to preserve the principles in academic life.
Programs like these reflect a broader shift in how universities are responding to global crisis. Institutions are increasingly stepping into humanitarian roles by using their academic platforms to support displaced and threatened scholars. In doing so, they work in the intersection of education and humanitarian response, offering refuge and protection while continuing to uphold values of academic freedom. Some researchers, including Adam Hedgerow, have noted that academic freedom can also be constrained by a university's internal structures, like ethics review boards. In ways they may favor institutional interest, like protecting the university's public image over the independence of academic research. This suggest that universities can function both as protectors of academic freedoms.
Protection Services
SAR arranges temporary academic positions at higher education institutions for scholars whose lives and careers are at risk due to their work, identity, or beliefs. These appointments, typically ranging from six months to two years, allow scholars to continue their research and teaching in safety. Since its founding in 2000, SAR has assisted more than 2,000 scholars from over 100 countries.Advocacy Campaigns
Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish disaster medicine expert, and Dr. Rahile Dawut, a Uyghur anthropologist, are both women who have face imprisonment under authoritarian regimes. Despite their academic contribution, they have faced detention under politically motivated charges. Scholars at Risk advocates for scholars in similar situations through its Scholars in Prison project, SAR campaigns on behalf of detained and silenced academics. The project focuses on raising awareness and support through international advocacy, protection, letter-writing campaigns, and public awareness initiatives. These efforts aim to protect academic freedom and promote the fair treatment of scholars worldwide.SAR challenges the idea that at-risk scholars should only be seen as victims in need of saving. Instead it works to remind the public of their professional identities and continued academic value, even in the face of persecution. Instead of letting their identities be reduced to just their circumstances, SAR helps keep attention on who they are as professionals, which is just as important in the fight to support them.
Some scholars, have argued that when universities and academic networks engage in activism, like campaigns led by SAR, they are stepping into an important role in the protection of human rights. Supporting scholars who face political repression is not just about academic solidarity, but it also reflects the growing expectation that universities act in response to global democratic crisis. SAR's advocacy campaigns can be seen as part of a larger shift, where academic institutions can take on more roles by defending scholars and the values their work represents.
Academic Freedom Monitoring
The Academic Freedom Monitoring Project documents attacks on higher education globally, including incidents of imprisonment, violence, and restrictions on academic expression. SAR publishes its findings annually in the Free to Think report series, which is used by policymakers, universities, and advocacy groups.Legal and Policy Engagement
SAR also contributes to legal and policy advocacy by submitting amicus briefs, participating in international consultations, and promoting the inclusion of academic freedom in human rights instruments. The organization collaborates with the UN Special Rapporteurs and regional networks to strengthen legal protections for scholars and institutions.Student Advocacy Seminars
Scholars at Risk organizes student-led seminars at universities around the world to engage undergraduates in advocacy for imprisoned scholars. These seminars focus on a variety of activities, including legal research, storytelling, and public outreach, offering students practical experience in human rights advocacy. A goal of the Scholars at Risk Network is to maintain the goals of the detained scholars until release or arrival at home countries.SAR's student-led seminars and public campaigns show how universities are becoming more involved in human rights efforts, not just through academic work but through hands-on advocacy. Universities can take on more active roles in global justice movements, especially in times of political unrest. By supporting initiatives like SAR, colleges and universities give students and faculty the change to contribute directly to protecting academic freedom and supporting scholars who face persecution.
The Student Advocacy Coordinator, Adam Braver plays a key role in organizing these seminars, often focusing on specific scholar who are facing significant risk. Through these initiatives, SAR ensures that the advocacy for detained scholar continues, supporting their efforts until they are released or safely return to their home countries. Each seminar usually centers on one or more scholar at risk, giving students a direct way to support academic freedom and stand up for global human rights.
By taking part in these efforts, students go beyond classroom learning and become active participants in global academic freedom advocacy. It's a way for them to use their skills and voices to support scholars and defend academic freedom, showing that even local, student-driven actions can have a broader impact. Through these small but meaningful initiatives, SAR helps encourage a new generation of individuals committed to protecting academic rights and freedoms around the world.
Global Networking and Events
SAR organizes conferences, public lectures, and workshops, including the SAR Global Congress, which convenes academics, policymakers, and civil society leaders. These gatherings provide opportunities for dialogue and collaboration on protecting academic freedom worldwide.In addition to formal events, SAR also encourages opportunities for more casual, community based networking among members. These connections allow people across different countries and institutions to exchange ideas, raise awareness about urgent cases, and support one another's efforts.