{"id":87943,"date":"2018-06-15T10:51:33","date_gmt":"2018-06-15T08:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=87943"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:01","slug":"kamerleden-op-de-bres-voor-academische-vrijheid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/06\/15\/kamerleden-op-de-bres-voor-academische-vrijheid\/","title":{"rendered":"Members of the House defend academic freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can scholars say and study what they want? Minister Van Engelshoven thinks so, but the Lower House is concerned. House Members from left to right submitted motions meant to guarantee academic freedom.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The Lower House<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t-JvL-<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Lower House debated science policy this week with Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven of Education and Science. The SP, GroenLinks, PVV and VVD, among others, have submitted motions to safeguard freedom of expression and academic freedom.<\/p>\n

Hotline<\/h2>

Harm Beertema of the PVV called for a hotline and an ombudsperson where students and employees who feel constrained in their right to academic freedom and the exercise of free speech can turn.<\/p>\n

Judith Tielen of the VVD found that motion \u2018excessive\u2019 and pointed out to her colleague from the PVV that a body already exists to protect scientific integrity, the Netherlands Board on Research Integrity (Landelijk Orgaan Wetenschappelijke Integriteit<\/em>, LOWI). But she believes, as does Beertema, that students, teachers and scholars should always feel free to express their opinion.<\/p>\n

Self-censorship<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\u201cThere is enough attention to freedom of opinion.\u201d\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinister Ingrid van Engelshoven\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Together with Zhini \u00d6zdil (GroenLinks) and Harry van der Molen of the CDA, Tielen therefore asked the minister in a motion \u201cto call on universities and knowledge institutes to focus attention on prevention and reduction of self-censorship and the restriction of diversity of perspectives in science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Engelshoven found it difficult to disagree with her. \u201cWe all subscribe to the importance of academic freedom,\u201d said the minister. But she still advised against the motion due to Tielen\u2019s wording. \u201cYou talk about \u2018reduction of self-censorship\u2019. If I gave a favourable opinion, I would concur that there is an issue of self-censorship, and I don\u2019t share that view,\u201d said the minister. She said it once again: \u201cThere is enough attention to freedom of opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Business<\/h2>