Cara celebrates university partnerships, calls for greater action at 2025 THE Awards

Edinburgh, Scotland -- Cara was honoured to be Charity Partner at the 2025 Times Higher Education Award held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre in Edinburgh last November 13.

The event was a chance for the organisation to meet its partners, celebrate the achievements of universities in the UK and Ireland, and reaffirm the impact of partnerships in defending academic freedom across the world.

“Universities have played a vital role in Cara’s mission. You have opened your doors to your peers, shared your expertise, your resources, and your compassion,” Cara Chief Executive Matt Foster said in his address.

Despite shifts and challenges in higher education, Foster said the support Cara has received from the universities in UK and Ireland reflects the strength of the academic community, and its unwavering commitment to academic freedom across the globe.

A highlight of the evening was hearing Cara Fellow Hana* share their journey of leaving their home country and building a new life in the UK. Now based in Scotland, where they are competing their Postgraduate degree, Hana said the experience of speaking to a crowd of 800 people was both daunting and exhilarating.

“When I was invited onto the stage and faced the audience, I felt nervous, but at the same time I realized how fortunate I was to address such a large gathering… It was a terrific experience unlike anything I had before: addressing senior delegates at such a major event, in a language that is not my native one, and being able to share my story.”

Academic Freedom remains a critical issue globally, as many academics face persecution and are silenced for producing knowledge that challenges repressive regimes. The 2025 Academic Freedom Index identified that 34 countries have experienced a “substantially meaningful decline” in academic freedom in the last ten years.

In light of growing threats to academic freedom, Cara urged partners to come together. “Since 2020, Cara has seen a 400% rise in applications… Now is the moment for us all to step forward. To stand with them. To do more.” Foster said.

This is the fourth time since 2022 that Cara has been selected as THE Charity partner of the year. The organisation is thankful to Times Higher Education and universities in the UK and Ireland for recognizing the value of Cara’s work.

“Our support for these individuals also builds collective impact for the sector, with many Cara fellows continuing to support their students and colleagues back home, producing leading research, and building international partnerships that strengthen the resilience of higher education globally,” Foster said.

Today, Cara partners with 135 universities in the UK and Ireland. As the global higher education sector faces challenges in academic freedom, the evening was an invigorating reminder of the sector’s strength and resilience.

*Name changed for privacy and safety reasons