Joint declaration of the FORTHEM Alliance universities reaffirms shared responsibility to safeguard the autonomy and integrity of higher education and research across Europe and beyond

-- JOINT PRESS RELEASE OF THE FORTHEM ALLIANCE --

At a recent meeting in Palermo, the presidents and rectors of the FORTHEM Alliance universities came together to sign a joint declaration in defence of academic freedom. In doing so, they reaffirmed their shared responsibility to safeguard the autonomy, integrity, and fundamental values of higher education and research across Europe and beyond.

In recent months, we have witnessed growing threats to the autonomy and integrity of higher education and scientific inquiry across the globe. In a number of countries, state actors have begun to question the standards of scientific truth, seeking to advance political or commercial interests at the expense of rigorous, independent research. These pressures have become manifest through attempts to curb academic freedom, by withdrawing funding for research on particular topics, for example in the social sciences and humanities, or by discontinuing established longitudinal research protocols, particularly those addressing environmental issues. Initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion have been targeted and delegitimised. This is unfolding within a broader social, political, and media landscape marked by widespread disinformation and where established scientific consensus is given no greater consideration than uninformed opinion. These developments pose a grave risk not only to the integrity of academia but to democratic societies at large.

As a European University Alliance, FORTHEM works to shape the next generation of creative thinkers and responsible citizens by cultivating talent and promoting the fundamental values on which the European Union is built. Through the alliance's collaborative efforts, FORTHEM reaffirms the centrality of critical thinking, academic freedom, scientific truth, open dialogue, and fair representation. FORTHEM fosters transnational cooperation, not only between institutions, but among students, researchers, and educators who share a commitment to inclusive and sustainable societal transformation.

In early May 2025, FORTHEM students participated in the Kristiansand European Youth Forum along with young people from Ukraine and the Balkans as a part of FORTHEM Democracy Week. The Forum culminated in the delivery of a Call to Action to the Deputy General Secretary of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge. The 100 delegates called upon decision-makers to address disinformation, authoritarianism, voting rights, and inequality in the face of economic uncertainty, rising political polarization, and increasing threats to democracy: "In 2024, we talked about democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech. In 2025, we are talking about authoritarianism, disinformation, inequality, and the feeling of being unheard. This isn't just a shift in language – it’s a shift in reality," resumed the participants.

The presidents and rectors of the FORTHEM partner universities, meeting in Palermo in May 2025, jointly reaffirm their unwavering commitment to academic freedom. The FORTHEM universities pledge to uphold a model of European higher education that is rooted in scientific truth and grounded in transparent, rigorous debate. The partners recognize the complexity of today's societal challenges and commit to addressing them collaboratively, across borders, through international research and teaching cooperation. The FORTHEM partners believe that data and scientific findings must be treated as a common good, and that intellectual freedoms must be guaranteed for all members of the academic community. In this spirit, FORTHEM is dedicated to providing students and staff from Europe and around the world with a safe, supportive space in which their right to open, informed dialogue is respected and upheld.

In defending these principles, FORTHEM takes a collective stand as a European University Alliance – to protect the future of science, education, and democratic societies in Europe and beyond.

Related link:
https://www.forthem-alliance.eu/ – FORTHEM Alliance

Read more:
• https://www.magazine.uni-mainz.de/forthem-promotes-the-internationalization-of-research/ – JGU Magazine: "FORTHEM promotes the internationalization of research" (14 July 2024)
• https://www.magazine.uni-mainz.de/forthem-brings-europe-to-our-university/ – JGU Magazine: "'FORTHEM brings Europe to our university'" (6 May 2024)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/establishing-fit-forthem-as-the-ri-pillar-of-the-forthem-alliance/ – press release "Establishing FIT FORTHEM as the R&I pillar of the FORTHEM Alliance" (3 Nov. 2023)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/millions-in-funding-for-the-forthem-alliance-of-european-universities/ – press release "Millions in funding for the FORTHEM Alliance of European universities" (28 Oct. 2022)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/forthem-encourages-the-entrepreneurial-spirit-of-students-in-its-european-university-network/ – press release "FORTHEM encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of students in its European University network" (16 Sept. 2022)