On April 18-19, 2024, the Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Öztaş, and the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Dr. Niuton Mulleti, attended the Third Inspireurope+ Leadership Roundtable on enhancing support for researchers at risk organised by the European University Association (EUA), followed by the 2024 Philipp Schwartz and Inspireurope Stakeholder Forum convened by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Philipp Schwartz Initiative and Inspireurope+, Both events were held in Berlin, Germany.

During the Leadership Roundtable, university leaders had the opportunity to exchange views and discuss the policies adopted by their respective institutions on supporting researchers and scholars at risk as well as the related activities carried out in this context. Besides peer learning and exchange, the Leadership Roundtable also focused on the recommendations set out by the Inspireurope+ project on expanding opportunities in Europe for researchers at risk with a view to their eventual reflection in the policies of European higher education institutions. The Inspireurope+ (i.e. Initiative to Support, Promote and Integrate Researchers at Risk in Europe PLUS) project is funded by the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and Horizon Europe, and is coordinated by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Europe at Maynooth University, Ireland. More information on the Inspireurope+ project is available at https://eua.eu/resources/projects/759-inspireurope.html

The 2024 Philipp Schwartz and Inspireurope Stakeholder Forum brought together around 400 scholars, host institutions and partner organizations across Europe. The Forum opened with a series of plenary sessions which dealt with the topics of academic freedom in authoritarian contexts, rethinking diversity, and displacement as well as exiled academics and diaspora networks. On the other hand, the workshops held in the framework of the Forum focused on the necessary mechanisms and tools to establish effective support programmes for researchers at risk.

With a view to its commitment to academic freedom, diversity and inclusion, and as part of its social responsibility, EPOKA University will continue to host researchers and scholars at risk by also building upon the best practices implemented by European universities in this regard.

EPOKA University has been an active member of EUA since 2015.