More academics who are needing to escape their country due to
persecution, war or conflict are being given the opportunity to seek sanctuary
at Northumbria University.
The Council for
At-Risk Academics (Cara), provides urgently needed help to academics in
immediate danger, those forced into exile, and many who choose to work on in
their home countries despite serious risks. Every year Cara receives hundreds
of requests for help from desperate academics, in immediate danger of arrest,
injury or even death because of persecution, violence and conflict.
In January 2019 Northumbria
became a supporting member of Cara, part of the UK network of 131 Universities
and research institutes who offer sanctuary to support this valuable work.
Since then, the
University has been able to host and financially support a number of Visiting
Fellows and their families, making it possible for them to connect with
academic colleagues and enhance their skills during their period of exile.
Northumbria
supports Cara’s aims including that, “when the moment comes, our Fellows are
equipped to return to rebuild their societies”.
Building on its existing
partnership with Cara, Northumbria has now committed to fund a further three Fellows
each year to assist at risk academics.
Professor John Woodward, Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engineering &
Environment at Northumbria and Executive lead for Cara, said: ‘I am incredibly
proud that the Northumbria community is able to offer a welcoming place of
safety for our visiting Cara fellows. With the significant
increase in at-risk academics fleeing conflict zones and persecution around the
world, the University is keen to do all we can to
support more colleagues and their families.’
