Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual freedom is central to the quality and good governance of tertiary education institutions.
In universities, intellectual freedom entails the right of academic staff to freely discuss, teach, develop curricula, publish and research and engage in community service. These aspects of intellectual freedom, which derive directly from the nature of academic work, are usually termed academic freedom. More broadly, however, intellectual freedom refers to the right and responsibility of all staff and students to express opinions about their work and the institution in which they work, and to participate in decision-making structures and processes within their institutions. It also entails the right of staff and students to participate in professional and representative bodies without fear of harassment or intimidation.
Further information:
| Council Resolution | NTEU National Council 2001 Theme Resolution - Intellectual Freedom and University Governance |
| Intellectual Workers and Essential Freedoms | Paper presented to the joint conference of American Association of University Professors and the Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America, 9 June 2000 |
| UNESCO Recommendation | UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, 1997 |
| Education International Article | Article \'Issues of Freedom\' from the Education International (EI) Magazine, September 2000 |