Navigating the Terrain of Academic Freedom in Ethiopian Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities

This study examined barriers and enablers of academic freedom in Ethiopian public higher education institutions using a qualitative design based on interviews and document analysis across three universities. Findings indicate that academic freedom is constrained by political interference, limited institutional autonomy, funding dependence, ethnic polarization, hierarchical academic cultures, and patronage-based administration, prompting academics to adopt strategies such as self-censorship, negotiated compliance, and selective collaboration. Despite these challenges, enabling conditions include policy reforms, growing governmental commitment to autonomy, an expanding research culture, and international collaboration. The study underscores the need for stronger legal protections, transparent governance, and greater autonomy, contributing Global South perspectives to academic freedom scholarship and informing policy and practice.