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Academic Freedom Policy -
Report from the Senate Task Force on Academic Freedom
It
was recognised from the outset that the issue (or rather issues)
of academic freedom, vital as it is to the life of each and every
university, was bound to engage the academic community, if not the
public, with interest. Accordingly, the Senate at its meeting on
September 5, 2000 established a Task Force on Academic Freedom in
order to determine the requirements and mechanisms to safeguard
academic freedom as an institutional asset. The Task Force submitted
its report (A summary
has been prepared for quick reference) to the Senate in November
2002, which was subsequently approved and endorsed by the Senate
and the Council respectively.
The
report has identified three important areas and hence three recommendations,
concerning the issues and assurance of academic freedom at this
University. These three recommendations, all accepted by the Senate
and the Council, shall become the policy framework for assuring
academic freedom at the University of Hong Kong.
- A working definition of academic freedom in the form of an institutional
declaration, as follows:
"Academic freedom refers to the freedom of academic institutions,
structures and individuals to study, teach, research and publish
without being subject to undue interference, free of any authority
or standard other than the rational methods by which truth is
established. The notion of academic freedom reflects the belief
that it enhances the pursuit, transmission and application of
knowledge, and as such may be supported by society through the
funding of academics and their institutions. Academic freedom
embodies an acceptance of the need to encourage openness and flexibility
in academic work, and of the accountability of academics to each
other and to the norms of cooperative pursuit of knowledge."
- A list of specific academic freedom enjoyed
by the University and its members with corresponding responsibilities.
- A proper mechanism to deal with complaints on infringement of
academic freedom (details are being worked out at present)
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