The University of Oslo likes to profile itself as a safe haven for academic refugees, even though it has only given two persecuted researchers asylum during the last seven years.

FOTO: Anders Aa Hagen

- The network gave me the opportunity to carry on with what I had already worked on and loved. Finally, I did not have to feel like the academic work I was doing was criminal, says Doctor of Law Jean-Marie Kamatali from Rwanda.

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is a organization fighting for academic freedom, mainly by arranging temporary academic positions at host institutions that are part of the network. Kamatali’s employment at Kent State University in the US was a turning point in his life.

Just like Kent State University, the University of Oslo (UiO) is a host institution. In fact, it is the only host institution in the Nordic countries, and in this respect a positive example. Yet UiO has not offered asylum to a single researcher since 2004. Despite this, the university describes itself as a haven for academics who are censored or persecuted in their native country. On its website, UiO encourages «other universities in Norway, the Nordic countries, and the rest of Europe to participate in the programme. By being a part of Scholars at Risk, we are supporting a worldwide network that focuses on freedom of speech and academic autonomy.»

Inquiries from SAR are handled by a contact person at each university. In the case of UiO, this person is Marit Egner, who can then send the inquiries on to the relevant faculty. A possible stay for a guest scholar is centrally financed by the University Director’s reserve, and therefore would not cost the faculties a thing.

A huge resource

Jean-Marie Kamatali visited Oslo last week in connection with the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) campaign, in which the focus was on academic freedom.

He strongly encourages UiO to welcome more academic refugees.

- Academic freedom: it is a human right. Many students do not know how privileged they are and I think that it is difficult to appreciate this when you are not aware of the situation of others, the professor points out. He believes that researchers who are given guest positions can contribute to creating greater variety and understanding at UiO.

The leader of SAIH Blindern, Tarald Berge, agrees entirely.

- The university administration has to be more aware of the fact that they are a member, and the resources that this entails, says Tarald Berge, who points out that this admonition was on the political agenda of SAIH during the campaign week.

- Saves lives

Deputy Director of SAR, Sinead O’Gorman, controls the flow of refugees from the head office in New York. When she visited UiO last week, she stated that they always encourage member institutions to host scholars seeking refuge.

- In many cases, this will literally save lives. This is the main argument for arranging positions for guest scholars, says O’Gorman, who goes on to say that universities get a lot in return for welcoming an academic who needs a safe haven.

O’Gorman points out that UiO contributes to SAR as a member of the network, even though it does not receive many researchers.

- We always emphasize that membership in the network is first and foremost an expression of agreement with the principle of academic freedom, she says.

Bigger ambitions in the UK

The London School of Economics and Political Science has a higher level of ambition. The university became a member in 2006.

- Initially, we only have the resources to hire one scholar, but our ambition is to establish this as a permanent arrangement, with five scholars at any given time who have been hired for a period of two years, says Zoe Gillard, the university’s SAR contact person. She states that after extensive preparation, they are now ready to start the project up.

- A lot has to fall into place UiO’s contact person for the network, Marit Egner, does not rule out the possibility of hiring a researcher at risk in 2009, but cannot promise anything.

- We receive inquiries from SAR now and then, but the needs of the academic who wants help must fit in with what the university is able to offer. A lot of things must fall into place, she states.

Vice-rector at the university, Inga Bostad, points out that they have attempted to make an invitation possible. She says that the SAR situation was discussed during Tuesday’s board meeting, and that the board will come back to this issue in next month’s meeting.

- Many things can be done to make sure that researchers are invited, but I think that it is especially important that things are arranged so that the invitation process can move along swiftly, without too much bureaucracy, Bostad says. When asked whether UiO will function as a safe haven for a scholar during the next few years, her answer is a very firm «yes».