For this reason, the faculty is organising three seminars in 2025 where issues of research, education and public discourse are discussed from different perspectives. The seminar series is primarily aimed at staff and students at the Faculty of Social Sciences but is open to all interested parties. The seminars will be held in English.
Academic freedom, freedom of expression and the role of the university in society
The first seminar will be held on 23 April and will focus on academic freedom, freedom of expression and the role of the university in society. These issues have become topical in various ways over the past year, partly as a result of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place at many universities in Sweden and elsewhere in the world. The demonstrations raise important questions of principle that will be discussed at the seminar, such as: What does academic freedom mean? What is its role in relation to freedom of expression? And what kind of issues should universities take a stand on?
Read more in the calendar.
The good academic dialogue: challenges, barriers and solutions
The second seminar will be held on 24 September and will focus on open academic discourse. The critical yet respectful exchange of ideas, characterised by curiosity, openness and tolerance for different views. What obstacles can there be to this within and outside the university? How can good dialogue be maintained and developed?
Read more in the calendar.
Hate and threats in academia
The series will conclude on 26 November with a seminar on threats and hate in academia. Some issues are more likely than others to result in teachers and researchers being subjected to hate and threats, for example through abusive emails, social media posts or threatening situations in classrooms or between colleagues. How can teachers and researchers be supported in such situations and what consequences can hate and threats against individuals have for the organisation as a whole?
Read more in the calendar.
- I hope that the discussions will not stop here, but that the seminars will lead to further dialogue on these important issues, says Dean Carl Dahlström.
