The Academic Freedom Index: Conceptualising and Measuring Academic Freedom Worldwide

This conference presents the freshly published data from the Academic Freedom Index 2026 edition, established by Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and the V-Dem Institute. It elaborates on the patterns, causes and effects of academic freedom contestations and provides an overview on the situation in 179 countries and territories around the world. It will also introduce the methodology and the accessibility of the Index and will show participants how they can use the data for their own research activities.

This conference is part of the new joint course titled “Academic Freedoms at Risk”, developed within the Circle U. Democracy Knowledge Hub, and it is open to entire Circle U. community.

Keynote speaker 

• Jannika Spannagel, Freie Universität Berlin and the Academic Freedom Index Project Team