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The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) advocates for the inclusion of academic freedom in the Constitution to protect Dutch universities from political pressure and intimidation, as is currently taking place in the United States. #AcademischeVrijheid #Grondwet #KNAW (translated)

Maurits Vande Reyde wrote that he found it incomprehensible that parties, politicians, universities, and the media had, in his opinion, blindly and naively rallied behind violent pro-Palestinian activists in recent years. He argued that this had been a cover for terror, destruction, and vandalism, and had nothing to do with self-determination for a people. He also wrote that the activists at universities had received honorary doctorates and VIP treatment and, according to him, still secretly laughed at what he called a collective delusion. #Palestina #terrorisme #vrijheid (translated)

Isa Yusibov wrote that October 17, 2003, was a day of conflicting feelings for him: he wished it had never happened, but he was also proud of it. He was 14 years old at the time and said his family had considered him an adult since then. The day after the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, in which his father played an important role according to him, Yusibov claimed to be one of the first victims of the repression against the pro-Western opposition. He wrote that he was beaten, humiliated, and spat on in front of about 300 to 400 students. Afterwards, he received his school file and was informed that he was no longer welcome because his father was considered a state enemy. Yusibov said that on his way to the exit, he made eye contact with teachers who had treated him kindly before the elections. Several teachers reportedly gestured for him to leave quickly. He wrote that the experience made him proud of his father and convinced him that the dictatorship would continue. A month later, his family reportedly fled to the Netherlands. The event compelled him to focus on geopolitics. Yusibov argued that the power transition surrounding Aliyev was a consensus among the West, Putin, Erdogan, and Iran. According to him, the West, led by Bush, had betrayed the democrats in Azerbaijan in favor of authoritarian stability. He also wrote that great power interests dictated politics in the Caucasus and that this situation had not changed 23 years later. Yusibov stated that his experiences had taught him how difficult it was to stand up for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. He wrote that he had seen the first signs of undermining democratic principles in the Netherlands as well, by parties that he believed targeted democracy. He referred to a previous interview with NRC and said he would not allow the Netherlands to become a country where the government disregarded fundamental rights. #Democratie #Mensenrechten #Geopolitiek (translated)

Cristina Zaga, a researcher at the University of Twente, advocates for a human-centered approach to technology instead of participating in the AI race with the US and China, emphasizing that technology must be socially just. #AI #MensgerichteTechnologie #MaatschappelijkeImpact (translated)

Prime Minister Rama visited a cleaning team in Tirana yesterday and shared a video message from a burned university building. He accused political opponents of inciting violence and emphasized that he remains as prime minister to continue Albania's pursuit of EU membership. #Albanië #protest #corruptie (translated)

"The cuts to research and educational activities undermine public knowledge about archives - and thus the support for the institution," said Maria Grever, emeritus professor of theoretical history and historical culture at Erasmus University. #NationaalArchief #Toekomstvisie #Archiefsector (translated)

Researchers from Stanford University have discovered that bleached coral can recover in record time by leaning against a healthy piece of coral, although this method currently only works in a laboratory and is not applicable to natural coral reefs. #Koraalherstel #Klimaatverandering #Wetenschap (translated)

On October 13, victims of pesticides highlighted the harmful effects of pesticides on health during a meeting at the University of Liège and called for action from the authorities to protect both farmers and citizens from these substances. #Pesticides #Santé #Agriculture (translated)

On the national mobilization day of high school students and university students on October 13, an estimated 90% of French universities were blocked or closed, according to the student organization Union étudiante. #MobilisationEtudiante #UniversitésBloquées #LycéensEnColère (translated)

A former woke teacher wrote that Letschert's past at Maastricht University, where she was allegedly involved in activities related to Palestine and Gaza and in asylum provisions, began to haunt her. The author stated that the VVD was right to demand clarification about the asylum service that the university offered under Letschert's administrative responsibility, including a manual for an asylum application. The adjustment of the associated webpage also raised questions, according to the author. Furthermore, the author wrote that Letschert's political appointment turned out increasingly unfortunate and that the problems she allegedly left behind in Maastricht had moved with her to The Hague. #UniversiteitMaastricht #Asielbeleid #PolitiekeBenoeming (translated)

Bas Paternotte wrote that the VVD wanted clarification from D66 member Rianne Letschert about the asylum application service of Maastricht University. Ulysse Ellian also noted, according to Paternotte, that the university had adjusted its website after the step-by-step guide for applying for asylum came to light. https://t.co/tca4D8GtJi #Asiel #Universiteit #Politiek (translated)

The documents found with Hanning are intended to inform, among other things, ministers. The direct damage seems to be manageable, says Wolfgang Krieger, emeritus professor of Contemporary History at the University of Marburg in Germany. #spionageschandaal #BND #vertrouwen (translated)

Marianne Zwagerman reported that a symposium on nitrogen policy was canceled. According to her, Sjoukje Heimovaara, director of Wageningen University and previously suggested by Zwagerman as a candidate for the position of Minister of Agriculture on behalf of D66, personally intervened. Heimovaara allegedly called the engineering association that organized the congress and said that she did not want it to take place. Zwagerman said that several people who were scheduled to speak confirmed this to her. https://t.co/NvlT061OiY #stikstofbeleid #WageningenUniversiteit #congres (translated)