Hyppää sisältöön

UNIFI condemns the forced resignation of university deans and calls for academic freedom in Turkey

 | Press releases and News

Universities Finland UNIFI condemns the forced resignation of 1577 university deans and calls for institutional autonomy and academic freedom for scholars and students

Following Friday’s coup attempt in Turkey the education sector, including the higher education sector, has been targeted, as have many other public sectors.

Over 15 000 education staff have been suspended while it has been reported that the Higher Education Council (YÖK) has ordered the resignation of all Deans from both Turkey’s Public and foundation universities, 1176 from state universities and 401 from Foundation universities.

Universities Finland UNIFI condemns this action against universities and university staff, and expresses its strong support for the higher education community in Turkey. More than ever Turkey needs freedom of speech, public and open debate, as advocated by its strong university sector, committed to internationally recognised university values, the principles of academic freedom, free expression and freedom of association.

Universities Finland UNIFI calls on all European universities and scholars to speak out against these developments and to support democracy in Turkey, including institutional autonomy and academic freedom for scholars and students.

 

In Helsinki, 21st July, 2016

Universities Finland UNIFI

Jouko Niinimäki
Chairman

Leena Wahlfors
Executive Director

 

Share:

More recent news

 | Press releases and News

Universities to correct admission errors in spring 2023 joint application process

Due to an error in transferring first-time status information in the Studyinfo service, some non-first-time applicants have been treated as first-time...

 | Press releases and News

Certificate-based admission to universities will be overhauled in 2026 – Vice-Rectors for Education have presented a proposal for a new scoring model for certificate-based admission

The proposed scoring model would ease the pressures on general upper secondary students and allow them to focus on subjects interesting...

 | Press releases and News

Revised certificate-based admission to be introduced in 2026 – the draft scoring model now under consideration at universities

The aim of the Finnish universities is to streamline certificate-based admission and to ensure that the study opportunities are not unnecessarily...