The value of free research and teaching for society and for each individual becomes particularly clear when this freedom is jeopardized. Political repression in the school and university sector, marginalization, intersectional discrimination, or a lack of choice in education are key reasons for many people to come to Germany, specifically to Berlin. Today already, almost 20 percent of students enrolled in Berlin are new to Germany, and many of them come from countries where academic freedom is under threat.

What do freedom and academic freedom mean to these newcomers? What are their expectations of academic freedom, vocational training and higher education? Are their expectations fulfilled and, if not, why not?

The centerpiece of our research is an artistic co-production process moderated by academics who have experienced flight or migration, in which the meaning of ‘freedom’ is explored. We worked with a group of New Berliners between the ages of 18 and 35 for whom increasing political repression, marginalization, discrimination, or a lack of educational and training options in their country of origin were a key reason for coming to Germany and specifically to Berlin.

The results of this collaborative research was documented in a short video and a radio play that will premiere on October 26th, 2024.

Pelagia Sotirkou joined the research team as an intern between May and July 2024. She conducted a small study on New Berliners from Greece that you can read here:

My name is Pelagia Sotirkou, I am a graduate of Sociology from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, in Athens, Greece and I have completed my postgraduate studies in Sports Studies, through the lens of Sociology, History and Anthropology, at the Hellenic Open University. My internship in Berlin lasted three months, during which I focused on understanding social issues related to, among others, migration, academic freedom and integration. My research interests include the sociology and anthropology of sports, gender and the body, ''delinquency'' and ''violence'' in sporting spaces, and issues of migration and integration.

Urgently wanted: Freedom of Research and Learning is a collaboration of Off University e.V. and the research project RePLITO (Beyond Social Cohesion: Global Repertoires of Living Together) at Department of Gender and Media Studies for the South Asian Region (GAMS), Institute for Asian and African Studies, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It is funded as part of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s Science Year 2024. Prof. Nadja Christina-Schneider and Dr. Julia Strutz are the co-speakers of this research project.