Photo by Daylina Miller / WUSF

Academic Freedom

Supporting academic freedom and resilience is a key part of OSUN’s mission. As authoritarian takeovers and war disrupt lives and universities, and as academic freedom comes under assault, OSUN works to provide networked and institutional responses.

Photo of threatened Uyghur scholar Rahile Dawut, held by her daughter Akida Pulat. Courtesy of Akida Pulat.

Threatened Scholars Initiative

TSI offers Fellowships in OSUN institutions for scholars who have lost their academic positions or cannot remain in their home countries due to threats or actions from authoritarian regimes, persecution for their views or identities, or other risks. Fellowship activities can include teaching, research, writing and other creative activities, and participating in the scholarly and cultural life of host institutions and the broader OSUN community.

Learn more →

In 2021 OSUN provided critical support to the American University of Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power. Pictured above are some of the nearly 200 threatened students that were evacuated and continued their studies at the American University of Central Asia.

Universities in Exile

Since its inception, the network has responded to crises in Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Ukraine that have led to the forced displacement and interrupted education of many students and scholars. OSUN has played a key role in developing and implementing strategies to support universities forced into exile by authoritarian governments.

Learn more →