Ruhr-Universität Bochum

RUB » Optionalbereich »

Modul: Academic Freedom Under Pressure: Human Rights Advocay for Scholars at Risk

Modulname	Academic Freedom Under Pressure: Human Rights Advocay for Scholars at Risk
Gebiet
Profil	Profil Freie Studien Profil Praxis Profil International Profil Wissensvermittlung Profil Zukunft
CPs	5 CP
Campus	Hier geht es zum Vorlesungsverzeichnis
Voraussetzungen	Participation is open to students and doctoral candidates from all fields of study (social sciences, natural sciences, media studies, law, medicine, theology ....). Good knowledge of English is required as the module is held in English.
Besonderheiten	Participant places: 15 / 30 participants for the Optionalbereich Date of the first meeting: Termin folgt Registration: Informationen folgen Composition of the final grade: 50 / 5 0 Examination date: during the semester
Blockseminar	Nein
Vorkenntnisse	Good knowledge of English is required as the module is held in English.
Veranstaltungszeit
Dozenten
Arbeitsaufwand	Teil 1 ( Seminar ): Structured work report Teil 2 ( Project work ): Advocacy project ; presentation und reflection of project work
Literatur	• Butler, Judith. “Academic Freedom and the Critical Task of the University.” Globalizations (2017). • The Advocates for Human Rights. Human Rights Tools for a Changing World: A step-by-step guide to human rights fact-finding, documentation, and advocacy. Minneapolis, MN, 2015.
Modulteil
Modultyp
Modulanbieter	Zentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtungen, Institut für Diaspora- und Genozidforschung, Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, Fachschaft - Evangelische Theologie, Universitätsverwaltung, Dezernat 2 - Studierendenservice und International Office, Rektorat, Die Mitglieder des Rektorats
Inhalt	Teil 1: Seminar , SoSe 2025 , Termin folgt ( SAR Core Faculty: Prof. Dr. Markus Koller, PD Dr. Kristin Platt, Dr. Maximilian Schell, Iris Vernekohl ) Teil 2: Project Work , SoSe 2025 , Termin folgt (SAR Core Faculty: Prof. Dr. Markus Koller, PD Dr. Kristin Platt, Dr. Maximilian Schell, Iris Vernekohl ) The Ruhr-University Bochum is an active member of an international network of renowned universities and colleges committed to supporting academics, researchers, intellectuals, artists and writers who are persecuted in their respective countries. The network's mission is not only to advocate for individual cases of persecution, especially when individuals are at risk of arrest and punishment or are in detention. The network also aims to anchor human rights issues more firmly in research and teaching. It is no coincidence that academics have been labelled "dissidents" or "enemy of the state" or accused of disseminating "hostile knowledge": On the one hand, we are witnessing increasing attacks on education, on the freedom to know and to speak, and the freedom to speak out. On the other hand, in an era of new nationalisms, scholars are easily suspected of being agents of transnational, non-national or representing hostile ideas in research and teaching. What does freedom of science actually mean ? What restrictions are being experienced by academics at present? What kind of political measures have been taken against educational institutions that are in favour of freedom, equality and emancipation? The Scholars at Risk network draws attention to the fact that scholars are being banned from their professions, arrested or even killed because of their critical engagement. The network actively campaigns on behalf of individuals. The main task is to bring the fate of individuals to the attention of the public and to contribute to the creation of an international network of political pressure to help the individual scholar who is being persecuted. As part of the advocacy work, there will be a close exchange with other Scholars at Risk network seminars taking place internationally. The Student Advocacy Seminar combines the three areas listed below. The sessions (2 hours) will be led by members of the Core Faculty. After the seminar sessions there will be an opportunity for the development of the project work (2 hours). (a) State persecution and violent politics (conceptual and theoretical insights) Insights into current research on power, authoritarianism, populism, xenophobia, racism, conflict, ideologies, gender, empowerment, globalization, governance, environment and sustainable development, religion, militarism and civil rights movements... So many topics in one semester? In the seminar we want to work out together that certain developments in politics, the environment and climate, social and economic developments are currently interrelated. As a result, the human rights situation in many regions is becoming critical. The focus will be less on individual theories and more on co-developing research questions. The aim is to develop interdisciplinary methods: The aim is to understand power processes as processes of society as a whole, which also affect the university system and university knowledge. The theoretical part of the seminar will be accompanied by a text reader with a fixed reading list. The concepts, issues and themes developed can be linked to basic social, historical, political and legal research. (b) Case-specific conditions of scientific freedom and discrimination (development of research and transfer skills) The second part of the joint work is dedicated to the concrete social, political and historical factors and structures of a single country. Among other approaches, recent studies by NGOs or political think tanks will be compiled for this purpose. A better understanding of case-specific political situations should be achieved through knowledge of current violent regimes and national and international legal frameworks. It is also about gaining insight into the vulnerability of critical scholars. Civic engagement networks will be presented, in particular the work of the Scholars at Risk network. There will also be opportunities for interviews and discussions with invited guests. In particular, publications , studies and interviews with individual scholars will be discussed. (c) Case-based advocacy The development and implementation of a concrete advocacy project for scholars persecuted in their countries of origin will be the third part of the seminar. The focus is on scholars who are discriminated against, threatened and/or persecuted because of their scientific and social commitment to ecological, justice and other sustainability issues. This will involve designing a publicity campaign for two individuals. The aim will be to draw attention to their plight. Specifically, the project aims to help improve the individual's situation and to highlight where further help is needed. The overarching aim is to encourage students to become involved in the community and to create a link between the University and the engaged public. The project work will not only be presented to the general public, it will also be part of the international network of Scholars at Risk.
Lernziele	Course Achievements Participants will be able to obtain 5 ECTS credits for the course. Outcomes to be achieved: Active participation in the advocacy project, participation in the final report, presentation of the report and reflection. Research-related competencies The promotion of knowledge in the field of research on political crises and conflicts, interdisciplinary methods, research on violence, the historical development of human and minority rights, current legal systems, academic freedom and social responsibility. Last but not least , the aim is to recognize the interdependencies between ecology, economy and politics with the causes of conflicts, poverty and persecution. Transfer of competencies to practical areas Research and career aspects of work in the context of human rights engagement. Promotion of digital competence, media competence, and the design of concepts of life under the guiding principles of sustainability and justice. Advancing knowledge in researching political crises and conflicts, interdisciplinary methods, researching violence, historical development of human and minority rights, contemporary legal systems.