AUAF President Ian Bickford was invited to share an update on AUAF’s progress during the Scholars at Risk 2024 Global Congress. The event was held on June 25-27, 2024 and was in partnership with the European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius, Lithuania. President Bickford emphasized AUAF’s success in educating young Afghan leaders.
President Bickford applauded the scholars’ commitment saying,“AUAF and EHU are spaces of great integrity, innovation, creativity, and imagination. Our students, against the grain, are able to communicate across differences and wrestle with complexity. Our faculty may be acclaimed researchers, but they think of themselves as teachers first, and of their teaching as a deep and meaningful activity.”
Dr. Victoria Fontan, AUAF Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, also spoke at the event. On a panel, she shared insights on the role of AUAF within the Alliance for the Education of Women in Afghanistan (AEWA), which she co-chairs. Dr. Fontan said, “The Scholars at Risk conference provided a diverse platform to discuss the transformative impact of AEWA’s collaborative efforts in empowering Afghan women through education. Our collective mission, initiated by AUAF, is to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to access and benefit from quality education, which is fundamental to fostering a more equitable and just society.”
The Scholars at Risk network is dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom around the world. Its Global Congresses convene leading scholars, advocates, students and professionals.
AUAF thanks Scholars at Risk and EHU for their partnership in our shared mission.
