This section brings together all the analyses classified under this theme.
Jacques Robert asks whether there is a link between the princely funding of American universities by Qatar and their tolerance of anti-Semitism on campuses.
The "month of equality" organised by the University of Grenoble-Alpes replaces academic debate with ideological awareness-raising actions that take the place of intellectual reflection.
"For a Reform of Pedagogical Thinking" by Stéphane Louryan is a lucid critique of early specialization and the fragmentation of knowledge in higher education. A review by Jacques Robert.
Is the cancellation of a conference desirable? Two positions argued by two members of the Observatory.
The recent publication of a report on academic freedom has obviously generated immense interest from the Observatory of University Ethics, especially since our Observatory is mentioned extensively in it, one of whose missions is precisely to denounce the multiple attacks on academic freedom and which has published several editorials and articles on this subject on its website.
Professor Albert Doja critically analyzes a thesis devoted to the status of "burrnesh" ("sworn virgin", but also "strong woman" in Albanian). An article which illustrates the challenges of scientific rigor, historicization of concepts and vigilance in the face of simplifications or "exoticization" which risk hindering the understanding and support of struggles for equality.
Pierre Rochette takes a harsh look back at his 44-year career, denouncing the rise of a cumbersome and absurd bureaucracy that seriously hinders scientific research, academic freedom and the functioning of higher education in France.
French public universities, which enroll more than 70% of higher education students, fulfill an essential mission with far fewer resources than the private sector, while relying heavily on state funding. Yet, they suffer from a disconnect between research and teaching, low professionalization, and a lack of institutional recognition, undermining their central role in educating young people and upholding the promise of republican equality.
The collective work Critique de la raison universitaire, edited by Arnaud Bernadet, explores how certain identity-based, managerial, and activist ideologies undermine the foundations of science, reason, and academic freedom within Western universities, particularly in Canada and France. Through contributions from various academics, the book denounces the erosion of intellectual pluralism caused by censorship, EDI policies, the indigenization of knowledge, and the transformation of law into an instrument of activism, calling for a rigorous defense of academic autonomy as a requirement of truth.
Fabrice Balanche, a researcher at Lyon 2 University, was prevented from giving a lecture by masked activists claiming to be pro-Palestinian. The University Ethics Observatory responded to this climate of intimidation in a statement demanding sanctions and strong commitment from university and government authorities.