23: Academic Freedom in Turkey
Prof Serdar Değirmencioğlu joins The Academic Citizen to provide some insight into the state of higher education in Turkey. This conversation follows from systematic and recurring dismissals and suspensions of thousands of academics and other government workers, including Değirmencioğlu, since July 2016. Restrictions on academics' work and international travel have weakened Turkey's higher education system while the Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, further entrenches its authoritarian regime. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/285068825" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /] We also get some student perspectives on academic freedom and the current situation in Turkey. Read this statement, which was released on Tuesday 27 September 2016. Photo Credit: Trevor Pritchard