HGS MathComp Curriculum & Events

In times of global pressure on universities the principle of academic freedom is fiercely debated within and outside academia. But surprisingly few academics and even less students have fundamental knowledge what academic freedom is – and what it is not. Debates and actions are often driven by emotions and subjective feelings about a ”proper university“ instead of well founded information.

In this course, participants will

I. discuss the principle of academic freedom – its history, its juridical status and its formal applicability

II. learn to discern academic freedom and other civil liberties (e.g. open speech, freedom of opinion)

III. understand the complexity of taking action in the face of violations to academic freedom

IV. sharpen our awareness for threats to academic freedom in our own societies.

The course material is in English and discussions will be a mixture of English and German (summaries in English will be possible). We expect engagement and interest – no marks will be given!


The course will be held in consecutive blocks. *Friday sessions* are compulsory (course of one hour/1 stündig), Saturday sessions are optional (course of two hours/2-stündig).

he course will take place in the conference room of Marsilius-Kollleg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.1


· *Friday, January 29**^th, **, 10 am – 5 pm */(compulsory)/

· *Friday, February 12**^th, **, 10 am – 5 pm */(compulsory)/

· Saturday, February 13^th, , 10 am – 5 pm

· *Friday, February 19**^th, **, 10 am – 5 pm */(compulsory)/

· Saturday, February 20^th, , 10 am – 5 pm

For participation and any queries, please contact thomas.meier@zaw.uni-heidelberg.de *before January 15**^th *!

/Due to Corona-restrictions the number of participants is limited to 15, so please sign up //*soon*//if you are keen to participate./

Dieser Workshop richtet sich an Wissenschaftler*innen, die vor der Aufgabe stehen, ihre berufliche Laufbahn (- innerhalb oder außerhalb der Wissenschaft -) zu planen.
Durch Einzel- und Kleingruppenarbeit, Impulse der Trainerin und Peer-Coaching wird Ihnen die Möglichkeit geboten, Ihre persönliche Situation zu reflektieren, berufliche und persönliche Ziele zu entwickeln und erste Schritte zur Umsetzung zu planen.