Statement of the Academic Senate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design on the political misuse of the academic environment

As members of the Academic Senate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, we are concerned by the growing tendency of politicians to misuse the academic environment for their own media and marketing presentation. The Higher Education Act (§ 12) speaks of the inviolability of academic grounds and the prohibition of political party activities on university premises. The university environment is founded on transparency; therefore, we consider the presence of representatives of the Government of the Slovak Republic on academic grounds — without entry having been authorized by the university leadership — to be inappropriate and unjustifiable. This statement is also an appeal for professionalism in communication and for adherence to ethical principles throughout the academic community. Academic grounds must remain an open and inclusive space whose primary purpose is education and the development of critical thinking.

Let us protect academic freedom!

Academic Senate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava