This policy defines the University of Thessaly\u2019s framework for providing a neutral, inclusive, and academically grounded platform for dialogue among diverse political, social, and civic stakeholders. Its purpose is to ensure that the University can host and facilitate discussions on key societal challenges in a safe, respectful, and evidence-informed environment, supporting democratic discourse and social cohesion.<\/p>\n
This policy applies to:
\n– All University-organized or co-hosted public forums, debates, roundtables, or consultations involving political, governmental, or civil society stakeholders.
\n– Academic and administrative units that organize events, conferences, or panels with potential political or policy implications.
\n– Collaboration with national, regional, and local stakeholders, including political representatives, NGOs, professional associations, and citizens.
\n– Both physical and online dialogue spaces managed by the University.<\/p>\n
– Neutral platform: A University-hosted environment where discussion occurs free from partisan influence or bias.
\n– Safe space: A setting that ensures mutual respect, open expression, and protection from discrimination or hostility.
\n– Stakeholder dialogue: Structured conversation between representatives from government, politics, academia, civil society, and the community.
\n– Moderator: A neutral facilitator ensuring balanced participation and adherence to the University\u2019s values of fairness and civility.
\n– Academic neutrality: The principle that university-led discussions must be guided by evidence, not ideology.<\/p>\n
The University of Thessaly recognizes its civic responsibility to foster inclusive and informed public dialogue. Accordingly, the University shall:
\n1. Provide a neutral, open, and accessible platform for political and community dialogue.
\n2. Uphold academic independence and political neutrality in all University-hosted discussions.
\n3. Ensure all events are conducted with respect, inclusiveness, and balance among participants.
\n4. Designate trained moderators or facilitators to maintain neutrality and manage discourse constructively.
\n5. Guarantee freedom of expression while enforcing policies against hate speech or discrimination.
\n6. Promote fact-based and research-informed dialogue that contributes to evidence-based policymaking.
\n7. Facilitate participation from diverse and underrepresented groups, ensuring equity of voice.
\n8. Publicize major outcomes and recommendations, where appropriate, through official University channels.
\n9. Integrate these activities into the University\u2019s Public Engagement Strategy and annual reporting framework.<\/p>\n
The Rector shall oversee the implementation of this policy. Responsibilities include:
\n– Approving and coordinating dialogue events under University auspices.
\n– Ensuring neutrality, transparency, and compliance with this policy\u2019s principles.
\n– Developing training programmes for moderators and facilitators.
\n– Maintaining a Register of Public Dialogue Events and associated reports.
\n– Monitoring event outcomes and compiling recommendations for future dialogues.<\/p>\n
Each faculty or department organizing a politically sensitive event must notify the Directorate to ensure compliance and proper facilitation.<\/p>\n
– All dialogue events shall adhere to the University\u2019s Code of Ethics and Conduct.
\n– Invitations must reflect diversity of perspectives and avoid exclusion based on political ideology.
\n– Moderators shall maintain impartiality, encourage equal participation, and prevent any form of incivility or intimidation.
\n– Participants must commit to respectful engagement and confidentiality when required.<\/p>\n
The Office of Public Relations shall prepare an Annual Dialogue and Public Engagement Report summarizing:
\n– Number and types of events held.
\n– Stakeholder groups represented.
\n– Main themes discussed and outcomes achieved.
\n– Good practices and recommendations.<\/p>\n
This report shall be reviewed by the University Senate and published as part of the University\u2019s annual Civic and Social Responsibility Report.<\/p>\n
This policy shall be reviewed every three (3) years or earlier if institutional or legal frameworks require. Amendments shall be proposed by the Rector and approved by the Governing Council.<\/p>\n
– Greek Law 4957\/2022 on Higher Education Governance
\n– Greek Constitution, Article 14 (Freedom of Expression)
\n– HAHE ESG 1.3, 1.4 (Public Engagement and Governance Standards)
\n– UN SDG 16 and 17
\n– OECD Principles on Open Government Dialogue
\n– EUA Guidelines on Universities and Civic Dialogue
\n– University of Thessaly Code of Ethics and Academic Freedom Policy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Policy on Providing a Neutral Platform to Discuss Issues 1. Purpose This policy defines the University of Thessaly\u2019s framework for providing a neutral, inclusive, and academically grounded platform for dialogue among diverse political, social, and civic stakeholders. Its purpose is to ensure that the University can host and facilitate discussions on key societal challenges in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1214","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1214"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2088,"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1214\/revisions\/2088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdg.uth.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}