The “Assessment Framework for Risks Related to Armed Conflicts and Human Rights in International Collaborations,” which has been developed over the past few weeks by a project team, was approved by the Executive Board on 16 July 2024.
With this approval, it has been decided to start a pilot phase running until 31 January 2025, culminating in an evaluation. Feedback from various VU bodies and staff, including human rights experts, professors, directors of operations, members of the Works Council (OR), University Student Council (USR), and VU members of interest groups, has been incorporated into this framework.
The framework aids in making careful considerations when collaborating with international partners. It balances academic freedom, the societal role of a university, the values of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the prevention of undesirable contributions to armed conflicts and serious human rights violations. The framework provides both objective, internationally recognised indices and tools for qualitative assessments. The assessment for entering into or renewing collaborations will eventually be required for all VU’s international collaborations. The framework will be discussed with deans and the OR and USR after the summer, and then made available on the internal VU website.
During the pilot phase, an advisory committee will be established by the Executive Board, consisting of representatives from all faculties with various areas of expertise, such as ethics, human rights, and international collaboration. The composition of the committee will consider the diversity of VU Amsterdam. Starting in October, the advisory committee, together with the project team, will further detail the committee’s working methods and assess an initial series of existing collaborations through the framework. The committee will primarily focus on institutional collaborations and those involving a financial relationship. This committee will advise the Executive Board directly. The pilot phase will conclude with an evaluation. The advisory committee will reflect on whether the proposed scope and working methods are feasible and proportionate and will provide advice to the Executive Board.
This new framework enables VU Amsterdam to assess international collaborations against the values of our university and international human rights standards. It fulfils the profound desire of many to belong to an academic community that lives by its values, particularly regarding its relationships with the international environment.