Stockholm university

Stockholm University signs appeal for Afghan scholars

Stockholm University has signed an appeal, coordinated by Scholars at Risk, containing specific recommendations to assist Afghanistan's scholars, students and civil society actors.

Stockholms universitet
Foto: Ingmarie Andersson/Stockholms universitet

The signatories of the appeal seek immediate action from European governments and EU institutions to:

  • Continue evacuation flights 
  • Increase resettlement quotas to help those in need of international protection, including researchers, scholars, and civil society actors. 
  • Create expedited complementary legal pathways for candidates who demonstrate an existing host institution, job, or sponsor, including for families, that would facilitate their arrival and earliest adjustment.  
  • Waive any intent-to-return and home residency requirements that may apply to visa applications for Afghan scholars and researchers for the foreseeable future. 
  • Establish a dedicated EU fellowship scheme for researchers and scholars at risk, including scholars, students, and civil society actors from Afghanistan, especially women and ethnic and religious minorities, to undertake fellowships, lectureships, researcher positions, or temporary academic positions at European higher education institutions. 
  • Establish dedicated national fellowships for researchers and scholars at risk, including scholars, students, and civil society actors from Afghanistan, similar to existing national fellowship programmes run by the PAUSE programme in France and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Philipp Schwartz Initiative in Germany.

Read more about the appeal on the Scholars at Risk website:

Urgent appeal to European Governments and EU Institutions: Take Action for Afghanistan’s scholars, researchers, and civil society actors