A fundamental right with obligations

Scientific and academic freedom protect the freedom of research and teaching as well as all other scientific affairs. Scientific and academic freedom are deemed to be fundamental rights in Germany. They are enshrined in Article 5 of the Basic Law.

They are also protected by international agreements given their importance with respect to and . This is also for instance stipulated in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the UN Social Pact, in other words the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the United Nations.

To whom does academic freedom apply?

Academic freedom provides the bedrock for independent research and teaching. It enables academics, scientists and to pose critical questions and to find solutions to complex problems. It is vital here for academic freedom to mean that researchers need not fear repression or restrictions in their research activities.

Academic freedom in Germany is regulated by the Basic Law, so it’s deemed to be a so-called universal right. The freedom of therefore applies to everyone engaged in or planning to conduct independent research. 

Academic freedom also implies a particular responsibility for science and academia

Albeit academic freedom not only gives rights to researchers. It also implies a particular responsibility. Scientific ethics in research and teaching are therefore an essential aspect of academic freedom. Because researchers must adhere to ethical standards in their work and must respect social norms.

Academics, and researchers should accordingly design their research in such a way that it serves the common good. Researcher’s methods must also be ethically tenable and may not for instance contravene data protection and animal protection regulations. Should people be involved as test subjects in the research, the researchers must obtain extensive information and these people’s consent in advance.

Researchers must therefore ensure that they use their academic freedom rights responsibly, so that their activities can contribute to sustainable and positive societal development.