Scholars at Risk (SAR)
Scholars at Risk is an international network of universities founded in 1999 at the University of Chicago to promote academic freedom and protect scholars who are at risk of life or whose work is severely compromised.
SAR is currently part of the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) and the Scholars Rescue Fund (SRF) - Institute of International Education (IIE). The network comprises 550 universities in 42 countries.
In 2024, the Politecnico di Torino renewed its active participation in the SAR Italy network.
There are three areas of activity: protection, advocacy to raise awareness among civil society and politics on cases of attacks on academic freedom worldwide, and research and training on topics such as human rights and policies for welcoming academic refugees.
SAR Italy operates through the sharing of information, the exchange of good practices, collaboration in protection and advocacy activities (e.g., assisting and facilitating contacts with international foundations and funding bodies), and the organization of awareness-raising events.
Through SAR Italy, training courses will be promoted with a particular focus on the issues faced by scholars in at-risk countries and on types of visas and residence permits.
SAR Italia on the Record is a podcast series developed within the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network, of which the Politecnico di Torino is an active member. The project aims to explore, through the direct voices of professors, researchers, and students, the themes of academic freedom, equity, and the protection of scholars from at-risk contexts. Each episode offers a space for listening and dialogue, giving visibility to experiences of welcome and integration within Italian universities and promoting a more just, inclusive, and supportive academic community.
In the radio interviews produced for the podcast dedicated to the SAR Italia network, Prof. Roberta Ricucci (University of Turin) and Dr. Isolde Quadranti (University of Verona) discuss the network’s mission and the challenges related to academic freedom and the protection of scholars at risk. In the second episode, Professors Claudia Padovani and Francesca Helm (University of Padua) delve into the role of advocacy, sharing concrete experiences, best practices, and collaborations between universities. The podcast serves as a tool for awareness and dialogue, aiming to promote academic freedom and highlight the work of the SAR network.
4th October 2024: National Assembly of SAR Italy was held at the University of Verona. The plenary session involved the Politecnico in working groups related to Institutional Relations and Welcome and Training.
3rd October 2025: National Assembly of SAR Italy at Scuola Superiore dell'Ateneo di Catania.