Academic Freedom Policy

Introduction

New Vision University is deeply committed to the principles of academic freedom, recognizing that the pursuit of knowledge, teaching, and research are foundational to the advancement of society. The university strives to ensure that all researchers, academics and teaching staff have the freedom to teach, research, and express ideas without fear of censorship or institutional restriction. This policy reflects New Vision University’s dedication to fostering an open and free environment that supports intellectual inquiry, innovation, critical thinking, and exchange of ideas.

The policy applies to:

• All academic, research and teaching staff, including professors, lecturers, researchers, and any other teaching or research personnel at New Vision University.
• All academic activities, including but not limited to lectures, seminars, conferences, publications, and participation in a public discourse.

Policy Statement

Academic freedom at New Vision University applies to all research, academic and teaching staff and encompasses the freedom to:

• Teach and discuss subject matter within one’s academic fields in a manner consistent with professional and academic standards.
• Conduct research and to publish the research results without interference or fear of retribution, subject only to legal, ethical, and professional obligations.
• The freedom to express one’s views on matters related to their teaching, research, or broader academic and societal issues, while maintaining respect for the views of others, values shared by academic community, in general, including New Vision University’s shared values and upholding professional and academic standards.

Freedom to Teach

New Vision University reaffirms the right of its academic staff to determine the content, structure, and methodology of the courses they teach, within the boundaries of their expertise and in accordance with the university’s academic standards, and the legislative requirements and standards set by the external regulatory bodies. Academic staff are free to explore diverse perspectives and present material in a way that fosters critical thinking, intellectual rigor, and a balanced understanding of subject matter.

Freedom to Research

Academic and research staff at New Vision University are entitled to conduct research in their areas of expertise without undue interference from the institution or external pressures. Researchers have the right to choose their research topics, employ appropriate methodologies, and draw independent conclusions based on their findings.

While announcing the research grant proposals, New Vision University holds the right to announce priority research areas, or concrete areas for the grant purposes, in accordance with the institutional research strategy. University can also establish priority research areas for PhD research, seminars or research activities of the university. This does not interfere with the academic freedom principles, but supports development of certain research areas, allocation of resources or can be based on the preliminary research of the community needs.

Responsibilities of Academic Staff

While New Vision University is committed to protecting academic freedom, academics are expected to:

• Adhere to the highest standards of professional ethics and integrity in their teaching and research.
• Exercise academic freedom responsibly, respecting the rights of students, colleagues, and the university community.
• Ensure that the exercise of academic freedom does not contravene any laws or university policies, particularly those related to discrimination, harassment, or academic integrity.
• Ensure that the culture of mutual respect and tolerance is respected, while different perspectives are explored and debated.