HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR THE NEW GENERATION

The symposium “Human Rights, Democracy and Academic Freedom for the New Generation” will be held on 8 and 9 October 2026 at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb.

Universities have long played an important role in safeguarding democratic values, human rights and academic freedom. At the same time, these values are increasingly challenged by democratic backsliding, political polarization, digital transformation, the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence, as well as various restrictions and pressures on academic freedom.

The two-day symposium will bring together students, young academics, university leaders, policymakers and international experts to discuss current challenges to academic freedom and explore ways of protecting and promoting it in practice. Particular attention will be given to the perspectives, experiences and responsibilities of the next generation of scholars, as well as to the role of students and young academics in responding to contemporary challenges.

The programme will include keynote lectures, panel discussions, interactive workshops, breakout sessions and roundtables, addressing topics such as students’ rights and academic freedom, the future of European higher education, universities as spaces of democratic resistance, and bringing student perspectives into policy and practice.

The symposium is organised by the Inter-University Centre (IUC), the European Students’ Union (ESU) and the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb.

Date: 8–9 October 2026
Venue: Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb
Address: Ulica Ivana Lepušića 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

The full programme is available here.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/G1tfsscNpNbyLCmD6