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This seminar aims at analyzing a complex and highly sensitive issue: the role of academic institutions in an international context marked by conflict and human suffering. Specifically, it will contemplate the position of universities when considering cooperation with Israeli universities and private companies, in light of the mass atrocities committed by the Israeli army in Gaza, which have been condemned among others by States representatives, UN high officials, UN human rights experts and NGOs and civil society.
The events in Gaza have unleashed a new wave of questions about the responsibility and ethical standing of academic institutions worldwide. Universities have traditionally been bastions of freedom, thought, and innovation, where the exchange of ideas is not just welcome but vital for the advancement of knowledge. International collaborations, including with Israeli universities, have contributed to scientific breakthroughs, transformative educational programs, and have broadened the horizons of countless students and academics.
However, there is an undeniable tension that comes with such cooperation in the current climate. The question arises: How do universities balance their commitment to academic freedom and the unfettered pursuit of knowledge, with the moral imperatives that surface in the face of reports of human rights violations and suffering? Can—or should—academic partnerships be viewed independently of the political and military contexts they are embroiled in?
Moreover, an ethical dilemma emerges for universities when deciding whether to engage with companies that are criticized for their alleged ties to human rights violations, weighing the benefits of potential cost saving or resources against the moral implications of supporting unethical practices. Procurement policies in this context must navigate conflicts of interest, transparency, and accountability.
In this seminar, we invite you to a thoughtful examination of these views. We must ask ourselves: How do we navigate these ethical and legal quandaries in a way that upholds our values as institutions of learning and inquiry? Should universities take a stance on political issues, and if so, where should that line be drawn? Moreover, what is the role of academia in fostering peace and resolving conflicts?
Speakers
- Nora Milch, Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, will focus on UiO’s procurement policies and ties to companies involved in the occupied Palestinian territories.
- Davina Kaur Patel, Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department for Community Medicine & Global Health, will focus on academic boycott as part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
- Gentian Zyberi, Professor at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo, will speak about the main international law aspects concerning issues of academic and economic boycott and relevant legal obligations of States and universities".
We appreciate your presence and your engagement with this challenging topic.