Responding to growing concerns about democratic backsliding, the Education department presents a new project at the inaugural meeting of the Sub-Group on Higher Education of the Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU), emphasising the crucial role of higher education in protecting democratic values. The new initiative aims to safeguard democracy by addressing challenges in higher education, ensuring academic freedom, and fostering the responsible use of digital technologies.
 
In the period 2024-2027, the project will focus on four key themes: Academic Freedom, Democratisation of Science, Local Dimension of Higher Education, and Digital/AI Challenges in Higher Education.
 
Academic Freedom in Action
The project emphasises the importance of academic freedom, and proposes actions for policies defending academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and higher education democratic values.
 
Democratisation of Science and Digital/AI Challenges in Higher Education
The new project for 2024-2027 focuses on the democratisation of science and the local mission of higher education, as well as explores the digital transformation in education and the ethical implications of AI, proposing actions related to academic freedom and algorithmic discrimination in the digital era.