KTH supports at-risk scholars
In the KTH operational plan for 2022, the President has allocated funds to enable KTH to offer at-risk researchers temporary positions in the next few years. This will be done as part of KTH's membership in the organisation Scholars at Risk (SAR).
“This is an incredibly welcome decision. KTH is one of around 20 Swedish universities and academies that are members of SAR, and we are also part of the section SAR Sweden,” says Professor Nina Wormbs, who has been the KTH contact person for SAR since 2017.
These funds allocated by the President mean KTH can offer sanctuary to scholars who are exposed to severe threats and violence in their home countries due to their academic activities. Thanks to a department-level initiative, KTH has previously been able to welcome scholars at risk, but with the new funds, more departments will have the financial means to host at-risk scholars. Dean Anders Forsgren is looking forward to the initiative.
“These funds in the operational plan offer KTH the opportunity to support SAR, and we are now going to start the important work of implementing this,” he says.
SAR-KTH is arranging an information meeting together with the Faculty Council, from 15.00 to 16.00 on 9 March, on how to host a scholar at risk .
“The meeting is aimed at anyone who would like to help scholars at risk from other parts of the world. We will explain how the process works in practice and what you need to think about,” says Vice Dean of Faculty Sofia Ritzén.
Wormbs is hoping that KTH will be able to do its bit in helping to defend the core values of higher education.
“Freedom of expression is under threat in many places, and we are in a privileged position here. If we can offer temporary sanctuary, we ought to do so,” says Wormbs on a final note.
Text: Louise Gustafsson
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