The SAR protection activities at UniTrento aim to identify opportunities for a short-to-medium-term reception programme that enhances the scientific potential of scholars in exile through processes that facilitate their inclusion in the academic community in Trento and in Italy, and at the international level. They are based on the assumption that solidarity with scholars in danger is a fundamental element of the principle of academic freedom and that it must be given renewed centrality in the third mission and internationalisation programmes at UniTrento and in Italian universities.

The SAR UniTrento protection project allows scholars to resume and continue their research work in a safe environment and to establish fruitful relationships with the local, national and international academic community. At the same time, the project aims to provide an opportunity - for the University, Trentino and the wider network of SAR Italy - to come into contact with new and different perspectives on research, teaching and discussion, and to promote a reflection on the importance of academic freedom and the causes and consequences of its violation in specific geopolitical areas.

The temporary protection programme for scholars at risk is co-funded by the University with support from external organizations including the Autonomous Province of Trento, Fondazione CARITRO and the City of Rovereto.

The University's protection projects have provided an important third mission opportunity through collaboration between the University and the networks of organisations and associations operating at local, national and international level. At the local level, the SAR project is an integral part of the goal of developing a culture of peace promoted by Forum Trentino per la Pace, the Shelter Cities Project promoted by the Trentino section of the ‘In Difesa Di’ network in collaboration with the Autonomous Province of Trento and the City of Trento, as well as the Center for International Cooperation. SAR UniTrento also collaborates at the local and national level with associations and organizations such as UNHCR, UNESCO and Amnesty International.

The UniTrento SAR protection projects are in line with those developed by other universities and national centres in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The risk assessment criteria

The University of Trento does not issue risk assessments, but relies on competent international organizations, such as 

• SAR (Application for Assistance),
• the Council for At-Risk Academics - CARA (Get Support)
• the Scholar Rescue Fund - SRF (Eligibility Criteria). 

In the examination of requests for protection - and in putting potential candidates in contact with available universities - Scholars at Risk considers the actual risk situation of the scholar. The procedure takes into account the following documents:

• assessment of the academic freedom situation in the applicant's country of origin or place of employment, including through the media, the SAR Academic Freedom Monitoring Project and the Academic Freedom Index;
• evaluation of the direct statements of the scholar;
• two reference letters that attest to the real risk situation of the applicant;
• an interview (optional) with the applicant;
• request and evaluation of supplementary documents to support the above, for example court decisions, dismissal letters and/or police reports.

Regarding academic considerations, SAR collects information about the scholar's CV, the list of publications and professional experiences in academic environments.

Arrival, monitoring and assistance

Each scholar who is accepted into the SAR programme is supported by the coordinator of the SAR project for the University and by the SAR contact person of the academic department or centre involved, who help with communication and relations with the University offices, filling out the paperwork to become part of the university and the local community, in collaboration with the Reception Office.

A tutor, someone who shares the same scientific interests and research area are as the scholar at risk, also participates in the programme.

These three individuals are also responsible for discussing with the scholars about specific privacy and security requirements, which also include the opportunity to advertise scientific or third mission activities as SAR activities.

For more information, see the Vademecum SAR Italy.

The University of Trento carries out several advocacy initiatives for academic freedom to make sure that political institutions and civil society continue to monitor these issues: it is committed to defending academic freedom by publicly adhering to advocacy campaigns organized by the national and international network in favour of scholars and students at risk because of their research activity. 

The goal of these initiatives is to give visibility to situations where academic freedom is threatened or abused, which are often ignored, and to put pressure on the competent institutions so that the rights of those involved are respected. Our University, for example, participated in campaigns in support of Patrick George Zaki since March 2020.

Since 2018 SAR UniTrento, in collaboration with the other members of SAR Italy and local organizations, conducts training and research activities because it believes that increasing awareness of these issues is essential to protect academic freedom.

Student Advocacy Seminars

These seminars, designed for the student community of undergraduate and graduate students of different disciplines such as Social Sciences, Humanities and the Stem area, are organized by the universities participating in the SAR network with the support of SAR International to provide the participants with specific skills in advocacy, leadership and research in the field of human rights. To do this, students are directly involved in the analysis of a case study of scholars at risk and in the subsequent creation of an advocacy campaign to support them.