Academic freedom and social safety within educational institutions are inextricably linked. Students and staff should feel free to express ideas, ask questions and participate in social debate without fear of negative consequences. The KNAW has already expressed concerns regarding the academic freedom, and the Netherlands have dropped on the Academic Freedom Index.

Academic freedom is the right of students, scholars, and institutions to freely research, teach, publish, and speak out without interference or fear of repercussions. This right rests on five pillars: (1) freedom of research and teaching, (2) freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, (3) institutional autonomy, (4) integrity of the campus, and (5) freedom of academic and cultural expression.

Educational institutions must actively protect academic freedom by ensuring the following: an easily accessible central reporting and information point, an independently positioned ombudsperson and periodic monitoring of signals and experiences. In addition, an open debate culture is needed, with clear standards of conduct and support for teachers to guide difficult conversations. Where relevant, an independent ethics review committee can help to ensure due diligence and independence, so that students and staff feel freer to ask questions and discuss points of view.

Being able and daring to give a critical (counter) voice is essential for guaranteeing the quality, diversity and inclusiveness of education. Self-censorship is therefore not acceptable anywhere. Hence, at the national level students must be protected from social or hierarchical pressures and possible repercussions, for example by exploring sensitive themes per discipline, stimulating awareness about communication tools and keeping track records from which structural patterns of self-censorship can be identified.

Furthermore, ISO argues for a clearer legal definition of academic freedom in the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW), which also lays down the responsibilities of institutions. In addition, the institution should put academic freedom in their policy.

To ensure the integrity of education, ISO advocates transparency about external and/or commercial influences on educational institutions, taking into account security considerations. Institutions should therefore also be transparent about ancillary positions of administrators, professors and researchers, so that conflicts of interest can be prevented. Students have a right to know what their research will be used for and therefore should have rights about their research. zeIn addition, ISO argues that academic freedom should only be restricted when expressions incite hatred, violence or discrimination, and that the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity should be complied with.

Finally, ISO argues for more involvement of the participation councils in the drafting or revision of safety protocols, for example around protests at colleges and universities. Furthermore, ISO is of the opinion that educational institutions should facilitate demonstrations, as long as they are in accordance with the law and take into account the rules of the institution.