Key problems highlighted include growing institutional pressure, instrumental views of research, and harassment.
The state of academic freedom has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Public discussion has pointed to factors such as insecure research funding, organizational reforms in universities, and a tightening political climate. An increase in harassment experienced by researchers has also been recognized.
The Committee for Public Information (TJNK) examined the Finnish research community’s experiences of freedom of research and teaching, as well as freedom of expression for researchers. The online survey, conducted in late autumn 2025, was aimed at researchers, teachers, and experts working in research-related roles. The survey received a total of 816 responses. Although the survey is not statistically representative, it sharpens the picture of the state of academic freedom in Finland by highlighting researchers’ and teachers’ own experiences.
The majority of respondents still assess the state of academic freedom in Finland as fairly good. At the same time, around half of respondents feel that academic freedom has weakened to some extent over the past two years.
According to the report, challenges to academic freedom are primarily related to political and economic steering of research and teaching, conveyed especially through funding systems and strategic management. The most significant challenges to academic freedom were linked to longer-term developments shaping how research is conducted. For example, an emphasis in funding on short-term applicability, applied projects, and predefined themes may narrow the conditions for free basic research and steer the selection of research topics.
The practical reality of freedom of expression for researchers is further affected by harassment and threats, particularly in connection with politically and socially sensitive topics. Some researchers have experienced hostile and abusive communication, personal threats, or defamation, and these experiences may lead to increased caution, modification of research topics, and avoidance of public debate.
The report also highlights internal tensions within the academic community. Hierarchies, power relations, and competition for funding and positions may in themselves restrict freedom of research and teaching.
Previous work on freedom of expression for researchers
The report was the final part of the Freedom of Expression for Researchers project carried out by TJNK between 2023 and 2025. The aim of the project was to develop, together with the research community, support measures against harassment and pressure directed at researchers. Based on the project, TJNK formulated recommendations proposing the establishment of a national support organization to protect those under threat of harassment and pressure, extend employers’ duty of care to also cover independent researchers, and include training in science communication and protection against harassment as part of doctoral and researcher education.
TJNK has monitored the state of freedom of expression for researchers through surveys since 2015. A comprehensive survey on freedom of expression and harassment faced by researchers was conducted in 2023. The latest report complements this picture by collecting experiences of the broader state of academic freedom.
An English translation of the report will be made available later. The report can be accessed in Finnish here: https://doi.org/10.23847/tsv.1852
More information:
Reetta Kettunen
+358 40 733 5935
info@tjnk.fi
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