ResiGov: Resiliente Hochschulgovernance im Angesicht von Angriffen auf die Wissenschaftsfreiheit. Handlungsoptionen aus einem internationalen Vergleich

Angriffe auf die Wissenschaftsfreiheit nehmen weltweit zu und erfolgen mit unterschiedlichen Zielsetzungen und durch unterschiedliche Akteure. Doch Hochschulen und ihrem Leitungspersonal fehlen empiriegestützte Handlungsoptionen, die Gegenmaßnahmen oder strategische Vorbereitungen auf solche Angriffe anleiten könnten. ResiGov erarbeitet solche Handlungsoptionen. Dazu werden eine international ausgerichtete Quellenanalyse sowie leitfadengestützte Interviews mit Betroffenen durchgeführt. ResiGov entwickelt eine bisher fehlende Typologie der verschiedenen Angriffsarten sowie Dichte Beschreibungen (im Sinne Clifford Geertz‘) zu Angriffen und Gegenmaßnahmen, aus denen Handlungsoptionen abgeleitet wer-den, die für deutsche Hochschulleitungen und wissenschaftspolitische Entscheidungsträger.innen zielführend umsetzbar sind.

Das Forschungsprojekt ResiGov wird vom Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR) im Rahmen des Schwerpunkts Wissenschafts- und Hochschulforschung (WiHo) gefördert.

English version
Attacks on academic freedom are increasing all over the world and are carried out with different objectives as well as by different actors. However, higher education institutions (HEIs) and their staff so far lack empirically supported options for action that could guide countermeasures or strategic preparations for such attacks. ResiGov develops such options. To this end, we carry out an international source analysis of attacks and countermeasures, and elaborate a typology of the various types of attacks, which is lacking so far. This is followed by guided interviews with those affected in representative cases. Of this combined material, we then develop thick descriptions (in the sense introduced by Clifford Geertz) of different attacks and countermeasures. From this, finally, we derive options for action that can be implemented in a targeted manner by German HEI (leadership) staff and decision-makers as well as other stakeholders in the area of HEI policy.

The ResiGov-research project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of its Focus Programme „Wissenschafts- und Hochschulforschung (WiHo)“ (Science and Higher Education Research).

 

Online Expert Workshop, 31 July 2025

On 31 July 2025, the ResiGov-team hosted the first international expert workshop as part of our research project. The experts will provide support and advice throughout the project’s duration. Prof. Aráuz Torres (Universidad Americana, Managua, Nicaragua), Prof. Andrew Ryder (Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem, Budapest, Hungary) and Dr. Janika Spannagel (Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) participated in the digital discussion; two other members of the expert panel were unable to attend.
During the two-hour workshop, the experts discussed the objectives, methods, timeline and next steps of the ResiGov-project. In addition, the concept of academic freedom, which is central to ResiGov, was explored in its different dimensions from an international perspective.
The ResiGov-team received valuable input from the participants about the research project’s concept and its possible developments. We are especially grateful that all participants are interested in continued cooperation.