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Hjem Christmas gift goes to persecuted researchers and students

Christmas gift goes to persecuted researchers and students

NTNU has a tradition of giving a Christmas gift to a good cause. This year, the Christmas gift is NOK 200,000 and will be used to help persecuted students and researchers around the world by supporting the work with Students at Risk (STAR) and Scholars at Risk (SAR).

Bildetekst: Det var styremedlem i SAIH Victoria Alterskjær som møtte rektor Tor Grande og som tok imot julegaven på vegne av SAIH. Lederen for Studenttinget Didrik Nohre Lønvik er godt fornøyd med årets julegave.
Bildetekst: Det var styremedlem i SAIH Victoria Alterskjær som møtte rektor Tor Grande og som tok imot julegaven på vegne av SAIH. Lederen for Studenttinget Didrik Nohre Lønvik er godt fornøyd med årets julegave.

Denne artikkelen er også tilgjengelig på Norsk.

Written by Tore Sandnes BeckerPublished:

– The Christmas gift from NTNU is a sign of solidarity with persecuted students and researchers. It is also a reminder that academic freedom is a freedom that we must cherish and protect. It’s especially fitting to honour SAIH, which ten years ago initiated the ‘students at risk’ programme. A programme that is now beginning to gain a foothold in several countries, says Rector Tor Grande.

Unfortunately, many researchers and students are subjected to threats and persecution in their home countries for their commitment to democracy and human rights. Rector Grande emphasises that academics around the world are at risk.

–Timely and significant gift

– At a time when academic freedom is under pressure globally, NTNU is making a difference by drawing attention to the importance of academic freedom and the protection of persecuted students and academics. The gift means a lot to SAIH and the students who need this programme, thank you very much, says Selma Bratberg, head of SAIH.

– We at Scholars at Risk (SAR) are deeply grateful for the generous contribution from NTNU. As a long-standing member of SAR, NTNU has been a committed supporter of our work. With this gift, NTNU strengthens SAR’s efforts to lead the way in protecting scholars, increasing respect for academic freedom and ensuring that everyone can think freely and ask questions safely says Patrick Wall from the Scholars at Risk network.

– I think this is an important gift, and especially in today’s world, where we need an independent and strong academia, this is also a timely gift, says Didrik Nohre Lønvik, outgoing leader of the Student Parliament.

Great involvement

This year there were 180 nominations from employees at NTNU. About 80 more nominations than last year. There was a wide range of nominated organisations. But a common theme for all nominations was that the Christmas gift should go to a good cause.

Facts about Students at Risk:

  • The Students at Risk programme was established in Norway in 2014 (ten years ago) on the initiative of SAIH and NSO. By the end of 2023, 125 students had received scholarships to study at a Norwegian educational institution. By the end of 2023, student activists from 26 countries had taken part in the programme.
  • Up to 20 students come to Norway every year and get a unique opportunity to complete their degree in a safe environment. Unfortunately, the need is far greater and every year many students are rejected.
  • SAIH is therefore working to establish similar programmes in other countries.
  • By 2024, this is in place in Germany and Poland, with trial programmes in Finland and Switzerland, and there are interest from actors in Denmark and Sweden.
  • Together with the European Students’ Union (ESU), SAIH is also working to establish a European Students at Risk programme.

Facts about Scholars at Risk

  • Scholars at Risk started at the University of Chicago in 1999 to promote academic freedom and to protect scholars.
  • So far this year alone, the network has helped 300 researchers – of which around 170 persecuted researchers have been given own positions in academia, which is the highest ever.
  • These 170 positions represent a total funded amount of approximately NOK 89 million from partner institutions (universities and colleges) participating in the network.
  • Scholars at risk has supported and helped persecuted researchers in countries and areas affected by conflict. NTNU has hosted researchers from Iran, Eritrea, Turkey, Syria, Yemen and Pakistan.