Freedom and Responsibility
In some parts of the world there is a lack of freedom and ethical conduct in science. As part of its commitment to the Scholars at Risk Network, ETH Zurich hosted a workshop for Swiss universities.
As part of a broader discussion on university values, Gerhard Schmitt, Senior Vice-President, ETH Global recently stated that intellectual freedom is the very foundation upon which ETH Zurich’s main building rests.
In 1848, revolution swept across Europe over societal issues such as the right to freedom of assembly and of press. Scholars, such as Gottfried Semper and Gustav Zeuner, who sided with the revolutionaries, were forced to flee their home country to enjoy the intellectual freedoms that many universities now take for granted.
They eventually came to Zurich where they contributed to the architectural and structural engineering of ETH Zurich’s main building establishing it as a place where, within its walls, scholars convene and enjoy the privilege to speak freely without risk of retribution.
Responsibility to act - ETH preparing the ground
The leadership of ETH Zurich shares a deep concern for the issues that face society. Upholding its responsibility to act and as part of its commitment to the external pageScholars at Risk (SAR) Network, ETH Zurich hosted a recent workshop inviting representatives from Swiss member universities to present their activities.
The Scholars at Risk Network is a formal collaboration of 330 member universities from more than 35 countries that are dedicated to promoting human rights and academic freedom. Currently, there are five Swiss universities: ETH Zurich, University of Fribourg, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, and the University of Lucerne that maintain membership in the SAR Network.
"Who are the scholars at risk and how does this network help them?" Like Semper and Zeuner, scholars in various parts of the world still face threats to academic freedom. Abdul Jawad Sutter, for example, was a well-respected English professor and the Dean of his former university in Iraq, but because of the political turmoil in his country and personal threats to his safety, he was compelled to flee to neighboring Jordan, leaving his home and family behind.
The Scholars at Risk Network assisted Sutter in finding opportunities to continue his teaching and research in a free and safe environment. Sutter now teaches and conducts research at Duke University where he collaborates with students and faculty in their research on Middle Eastern Studies, Journalism, and Communications among others.
Hosting a scholar is just one way for universities to become involved, the SAR Network also works towards increasing the awareness of issues surrounding academic freedom through conferences and workshops, like the one held at ETH Zurich last month.
Barbara Becker, Director Global Transformation Affairs, shared ETH Zurich’s activities in the SAR Network stating, "ETH Zurich has operationalized its membership by raising awareness within the institution and beginning the discussion of ethical standards for international collaboration."
"Engage with your values"
As ETH Zurich continues to broaden its research collaborations with universities, alliances, and industries throughout the world, the question arises as to, "How should we engage partnerships in countries where values differ from our own?"
Robert Quinn, founding Executive Director for the Scholars at Risk Network, addressed this question during the recent workshop stating that, "The question is not a false choice of whether or not to engage in partnerships, but rather a choice to engage with your values."
Quinn further elaborated upon this statement by acknowledging that because of the “historically deep cultures of open inquiry, scientific integrity and other academic values that are vital to intellectual creativity, attraction and retention of academic talent,” universities are poised to serve as “models for the responsible exercise of intellectual freedoms in ways that most benefit the university and society.”
He advised that universities begin by developing strong internal values and culture; by declaring a statement of values that includes how it defines academic freedom within its physical spaces, on its campuses and in its classrooms, and finally, how it states its intellectual core values and social responsibilities. Developing such value statements, however, is only the first part of the process, engaging the support of the various stakeholders within the university, implementing values in its agreements with international institutions, and communicating values through words, actions and deeds.
This is the challenge for which ETH Zurich has prepared the ground by establishing a framework within the institution for value-driven discussions and the systematic development of an internal document, titled, “Code of Conduct for the Scientific Co-operations of ETH Zurich.” The process, initiated by the ETH Zurich International Advisory Board, has taken more than 2 years to develop and was approved for consultation in early April 2014.