Faculty Members’ Perceptions Regarding Academic Freedom at University Level in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Academic freedom is the set of rules, regulations and legislations set by an institution for its academic environment and faculty members. There are many indicators underlie this phenomenon. Academic freedom surrounds university matters like ideas, books, materials and programs, publications, research, instructional technology and many more like that. Present study focuses on gathering the perceptions of faculty members of public and private universities of Punjab regarding academic freedom, awareness about it, its policies and practices and satisfactions towards it. 100 faculty members were selected to achieve the goal of the study. The questionnaire was developed inspired by principles provided by AAUP and from the study of Smith (2005). It contained 4 sections, the introductory section contained demographic variables while rest followed with academic freedom awareness, policies and practices, academic freedom of faculty and administration and faculty members’ personal satisfaction towards academic freedom. Variables were measured on following demographics as age, gender, academic qualification, experience and type of institute. The study concluded overall no significant difference among views of faculty members on any variables besides in the case of more experienced and public university’s faculty members; were more satisfied with their institutes academic freedom policies and practices. This study is of its own kind in Pakistan due to no profound research on this area; opened a platform of a new arena of research in higher education and thus can attract educational researchers and scholars.