Morocco's Position in the Global Academic Freedom Ranking
According to the recently published Academic Freedom Index (AFI) for 2026, compiled by Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and the ‘V-Dem’ Institute, Morocco has secured the 109th position out of 178 countries reviewed in this assessment. The ranking evaluates the actual levels of academic freedom across the globe, focusing on essential aspects such as the freedom to research and teach, the ability to exchange academic ideas, the independence of institutions, and the cultural freedom of expression.
Comparative Analysis of Academic Freedom
In this ranking, countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Belgium emerged at the top, while Myanmar and Nicaragua found themselves at the bottom of the list. Notably, Lebanon led among the Arab League member states, followed by Iraq, Tunisia, Kuwait, Palestine, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Sudan, Algeria, Syria, and Bahrain. The findings reveal a concerning trend where the freedom of academics is deteriorating in a greater number of countries than those showing improvement. Between 2015 and 2025, there was a significant decline in academic freedom in 50 countries, with only 9 nations reporting improvements.
Moreover, the report emphasizes that institutional autonomy plays a crucial role in safeguarding various dimensions of academic freedom. Countries with more independent institutions provide greater protection for individual researchers' freedoms. Institutional autonomy refers to the capacity of higher education institutions to manage their affairs without excessive interference from the state or external non-academic entities. According to the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel, autonomy is the degree of self-governance necessary for effective decision-making regarding academic activities, standards, and management, in alignment with public accountability systems.
The report also clarifies that institutional autonomy does not equate to complete independence from the state; rather, it signifies a protected space for decision-making within a broader legal and regulatory framework. While universities operate under common law and may depend on public funding, institutional autonomy allows them to carry out their core educational and scientific functions freely, without undue control or pressure from governmental, political, or societal forces.
In terms of global academic freedom, it remains more robust in regions such as Latin America, Europe, North America, Oceania, and significant parts of Southern and Western Africa, in contrast to Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region. The decline of academic freedom on a global scale began around 2012, primarily driven by setbacks in Latin America, Asia, and the MENA region. As of 2022, constitutional protections for university independence were prevalent in Latin America, Central Asia, and Eastern and Western Europe. However, legal protections do not always guarantee real protection, and in recent years, the state of institutional independence has deteriorated in numerous countries, particularly in Europe, North America, and Latin America.
The conclusion drawn from the Academic Freedom Index report is stark: between 2015 and 2025, 43 countries across various regions experienced a statistically significant decrease in institutional autonomy. In 21 of these 43 countries, institutional independence was well protected back in 2015, including primarily European countries like Austria, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Switzerland; North America, including Canada and the United States; and Latin American nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, and Peru. This trend can be interpreted as an indicator of a broader decline in university independence within liberal democratic nations.
As reported by hespress.com.
