Scholar Rescue Fund

Scholar Rescue Fund
Name	Scholar Rescue Fund
Formation	2002
Founder	Scholars at Risk; Institute of International Education
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	Global

Scholar Rescue Fund

The Scholar Rescue Fund provides fellowships and emergency support to at-risk academics facing threats due to persecution, conflict, or crisis in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Myanmar, and Venezuela. Established in the early 21st century with backing from institutions including the Institute of International Education and international foundations, the program has placed scholars at host institutions across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, and other nations. It collaborates with universities, research centers, and philanthropic organizations to enable continuity of research and teaching activities interrupted by events like the Arab Spring, the Syrian civil war, and the Taliban takeover of Kabul (2021).

History

The initiative traces roots to responses to crises such as the persecution of academics under regimes like Taliban, Bashar al-Assad, and Robert Mugabe, and to mass dislocations during conflicts including the Iraq War and the Libyan Civil War. Early supporters included global actors such as the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the MacArthur Foundation, while program design drew on precedents like the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellowships and historic rescue efforts during the Nazi era and the Spanish Civil War. Over time the program expanded its network to partner with higher-education institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Toronto, Free University of Berlin, Sorbonne University, and University of Cape Town to host displaced scholars.

Mission and Programs

The Fund's mission emphasizes protection of threatened scholars and preservation of academic freedom in contexts including the Rohingya crisis, the Yemeni Civil War, and repression linked to events like the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. Programmatic offerings include short- and long-term fellowships, emergency grants, and relocation assistance modeled on programs like the Helsinki Monitor and collaborative networks such as Scholars at Risk and the Council for At-Risk Academics. Host placements permit fellows to affiliate with departments and centers at institutions such as Columbia University, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, University of Melbourne, and National University of Singapore to continue work on projects related to fields represented by fellows, with connections to initiatives including the Open Society Foundations and multidisciplinary centers like the Berkman Klein Center.

Eligibility and Selection Process

Candidates typically include faculty, researchers, and intellectuals from regions experiencing repression, such as academics linked to incidents in Iran, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and Eritrea. The selection process involves review panels composed of scholars affiliated with institutions like Yale University, Princeton University, King's College London, Australian National University, and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Criteria emphasize documented threats associated with events like the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey or policies enacted under laws comparable to the Law on Combating Terrorism in various states, as verified by civil-society groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists. Placement logistics coordinate with host university offices including international student services, postdoctoral affairs, and legal counsel.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources encompass private foundations, corporate donors, and government cultural diplomacy entities such as the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the European Commission funding streams. Major philanthropic partners have included the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Open Society Institute. Operational partnerships span universities and scholarly associations like the American Association of University Professors, the European University Association, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and research funders such as the Wellcome Trust and the National Endowment for Democracy. Emergency relocation logistics have been supported by organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organization for Migration, and nongovernmental groups like Refugees International.

Impact and Notable Fellows

Fellows have included scholars forced from institutions after crackdowns tied to events like the Gezi Park protests, or targeted for research on topics including transitional justice in Rwanda or media freedom following incidents such as the Murder of Anna Politkovskaya. Alumni have continued careers at institutions including Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, McGill University, Peking University, and American University of Beirut. Their work has produced publications with presses like Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Routledge and collaborations with policy bodies such as the United Nations, European Parliament, and think tanks including the Brookings Institution and the Chatham House. Awards and recognitions received by fellows include honors from entities like the Right Livelihood Award and nominations to bodies such as the Royal Society and national academies including the National Academy of Sciences.

Governance and Administration

The Fund is overseen by a board drawn from leaders affiliated with institutions such as Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, LSE (London School of Economics and Political Science), and major foundations. Administrative functions coordinate with offices of research and global affairs at host campuses and liaise with consular services of states such as Germany, Canada, and France for visa facilitation. Advisory committees include eminent academics from networks tied to the Royal Society of Canada, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and professional societies such as the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association.

Category:Humanitarian organizations Category:Academic support organizations