Introduction.

This Report is submitted as fulfilment of the terms set out in Contract number 106608.7 signed on August 29th 1997 between UNESCO and the International Association of Universities. Clause 1.4 of that contract called for a "document on the feasibility, desirability and possible content of an international instrument on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy as one of the inputs from the International Association of Universities to UNESCO’s World Conference on Higher Education."

This Report is the response to UNESCO's request. It is divided into five parts.

These parts are:

Activities undertaken by the IAU in examining recent and long-term developments in the domain of Academic Freedom and University Autonomy.

Historical, sociological and legal analysis of recent trends in higher education: their implications for Academic Freedom and University Autonomy.

An analysis of the major documents, declarations issued by major organisations representative of the higher education constituency over the period 1984 - 1996.

The major issues discussed and position taken during the IAU Consultation of Experts at Bangkok in November 1997 and in subsequent correspondence.

Conclusions and Recommendations