The representative of the International Economic Department, PhD, associate professor, Oksana Zamora, has recently participated in an important European event focused on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s academic community. From June 24 to 28, 2025, the WG4 working meeting and the Training School was organized by the OPEN COST Action at the Center for Openness and Dialogue in Tirana (Premier Minister Office), Albania, and hosted by the Epoka University.
The School, titled “Academics in Europe: Challenges of Self-Censorship, Academic Security and Wellbeing,” brought together university faculty, researchers, PhD students, academic administrators, and advocates for academic freedom from across Europe. This initiative is part of the broader COST Action, a research network funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), which aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and scientific excellence across the continent.
Throughout the three-day training, participants explored the increasingly complex landscape that European academics must navigate today. With the rise of global geopolitical tensions, climate change, technological disruptions, and growing illiberalism, academic institutions face unprecedented challenges. The training addressed the urgent need for young professionals to develop resilience and adaptive strategies to protect academic freedom and maintain intellectual integrity in these volatile times.
The participants engaged in a dynamic program designed to prepare them for the psychological and professional pressures that can arise in academic settings. The sessions covered a range of timely topics, including self-censorship awareness, cybersecurity, and mental health support. Expert speakers—ranging from experienced academics and NGO activists to security experts and legal scholars—led interactive workshops and group discussions. These activities encouraged participants to share their experiences and collaborate on developing practical solutions to safeguard academic values.
One of the highlights of the training was the focus on digital security and the creation of safe online learning environments, as well as an in-depth analysis of cybersecurity strategies in political research. The program concluded with a study visit to the House of Leaves, Albania’s museum of secret surveillance, which offered a powerful reminder of the importance of academic freedom and the dangers of censorship.
For more information about the OPEN COST Action: https://www.au.dk/opencostaction
