The media report on it, politicians talk about it, scientists are making their voices heard… It’s a fact: attacks on science are on the rise! In response, the French-speaking Universities of Applied Sciences (Hautes Écoles) of Belgium are publishing an open letter to collectively reaffirm their commitment to science that is free, independent, and grounded in real-world realities. This is about defending applied research, a vital engine of innovation and societal transformation. Because it is anchored in the concrete needs of businesses, organizations, and citizens, this research is a true lever for the future.
Universities of Applied Sciences emphasize: academic freedom is not a privilege, but a fundamental condition for a democratic and enlightened society. When this freedom is threatened, tomorrow’s practical solutions are put at risk.
“As representatives of Universities of Applied Sciences, we are increasingly concerned by the growing questioning of the independence of science and of academic freedom in various parts of our society. This collective awareness leads us to firmly reaffirm our commitment to these fundamental values, which lie at the heart of all scientific endeavor. Faced with the various pressures currently threatening the autonomy of research, we believe it is more urgent than ever to recall that scientific freedom is the cornerstone of a democratic, enlightened, and resilient society.
The values we defend, which are also upheld by ARES (Academy for Research and Higher Education), include capacity-building, reciprocity and equity in exchanges, inclusion and diversity, as well as autonomy and academic freedom. These are not mere slogans. They form the foundation of the rigor of our research, the quality of our teaching, and our society’s ability to innovate, to question (itself), to progress, to challenge, and, ultimately, to think.
Higher education, through the Universities of Applied Sciences, is a vital link in the scientific research ecosystem. At the crossroads of the academic and professional worlds, Universities of Applied Sciences occupy a unique position. They train the future actors on the ground, those who will be working directly within the concrete realities of our society tomorrow. Their education cannot take place without teaching that is nourished by research that is free, independent, and connected to contemporary challenges. That is where our responsibility as institutions lies, as well as our duty toward citizens.
In this context, we reaffirm that:
Maintaining all areas of expertise is essential to grasp the complexity of today’s challenges;
Independent research is the guarantee of reliable, validated scientific results that serve the common good;
Developing critical thinking is at the heart of our mission: there can be no active citizenship without freedom of thought;
Science is not limited to immediate economic returns: it must be free to explore, anticipate, imagine, and sometimes disturb in order to better innovate.
Thus, we reiterate that academic freedom is neither a luxury nor a privilege, but a fundamental condition for building a democratic and innovative society. Ideas, knowledge, and discoveries must be able to develop free from ideological pressures and vested interests. Only then can knowledge truly serve the public interest.
We, representatives of Universities of Applied Sciences, speak today with one voice to reaffirm our commitment: to defend academic freedom, to preserve the integrity of scientific research, and to continue forming minds that are free, curious, and critical.
Science is a common good that we must collectively protect and promote. It is one of the most precious tools we have to understand our world and shape its future in an enlightened way.”
This letter is signed by the entire leadership of Universities of Applied Sciences of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, united in their commitment to defending free science and academic freedom.
Published on 3 June 2025
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