The Academic Freedom Index (AFI) is an open-access research initiative and dataset hosted at academic-freedom-index.net. Developed through a collaborative partnership between researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), the V-Dem Institute, and Scholars at Risk, this project provides a data-driven assessment of the state of academic freedom across 179 countries and territories.
Designed for university leaders, researchers, and policymakers, the index evaluates academic freedom using five core indicators: freedom to research and teach, freedom of academic exchange, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, and freedom of academic expression. Based on expert assessments from thousands of country specialists and statistical modeling, the platform offers an interactive global map, annual reports, and historical data to track trends and changes in academic freedom over time.
This dataset provides higher education institutions and researchers with empirical data to assess international partnerships, evaluate institutional risk, and inform policy decisions regarding academic freedom.