Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1334. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the policy initiatives his Department supports to protect academic freedom in third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27069/23]
View answerThe principle of academic freedom is a cornerstone of high-quality higher education and research throughout the world.
Ireland has among the highest statutory protections in its sectorial legislation for academic freedom in Europe. Academic freedom is provided for in section 14 of the Universities Act, 1997 section 10 of the Technological Universities Act, 2018 and section 5A of the Institutes of Technology Act 1992 to 2006. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 also includes the following Object of the HEA: “to respect the academic freedom of higher education providers and academic staff in those providers;”
These legislative provisions ensure there is a statutory basis for the academic freedom of universities, technological universities and institutes of technology in the conduct of their affairs and the academic freedom of the academic staff in those institutions. Each university, technological university and institute of technology has an academic council which governs the academic affairs of the higher education institution including the curriculum of and instruction and education provided by the university.
