From Safe Spaces to Democratic Literacy: Universities Grapple with Polarisation in Europe

“Who do we work with, and for what reason?”

That was the question posed by Arend Hardorff, Vice-President of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, as he stood before a packed room at the EAIE Conference in Gothenburg. It was a rainy morning, but the audience was fully engaged. Moderated by Professor Elspeth Jones, the Spotlight Session set out to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing higher education: how universities should respond to campus polarization, politically sensitive partnerships, and the rising pressure to act as guardians of democracy.

Partnerships Under Scrutiny

Hardorff began with dilemmas that have become commonplace in Dutch higher education. “Should we work with Shell, a company still making money from oil but also a key investor in renewable energy?” he asked. “What about defense companies like Thales, essential for Dutch security but also active in Israel? These are no longer theoretical questions — they land on our desks.”

He noted how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted the consensus. What was once a taboo — collaboration with defense — is now a national priority. Similarly, debates on Israeli partnerships have intensified since the war in Gaza.

For The Hague UAS, these debates directly involve students and staff. “We’re a community of 23,000 students, highly international, reflecting the multicultural city around us. The divisions you see in society are also present inside our university,” Hardorff explained.

Polarisation Inside and Out

National politics only intensifies the pressures. With elections looming in the Netherlands and parties questioning internationalization, international students and staff feel unwelcome. “We hear: Is there a future for us here?” said Hardorff.

The result is distrust in governance. “People ask: Who decides, on what grounds? We struggle to balance academic freedom with ethical responsibility. And we are challenged as leaders to be more political — but we are not politicians. We are educators.”

Dialogue, Not Decrees

Instead of imposing solutions, The Hague UAS invited its community to co-create an ethical framework for partnerships. “The process mattered more than the product,” Hardorff stressed. “Dialogue itself was transformative.”

At the same time, the university launched Open Space Dialogues, moderated by an experienced journalist. These sessions create forums for contested issues — from sustainability to discrimination — allowing students and staff to speak freely in a safe environment.

“Polarisation won’t vanish,” Hardorff admitted. “But we can at least build trust and understanding. Even those who don’t attend know these spaces exist, and that matters.”

Germany’s “Last Frontier of Democracy”

If Hardorff’s examples reflected dilemmas, Professor Tatiana Zimenkova, vice-president of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences offered a sobering warning.

Her institution is Germany’s most international university, with over 60% non-European students. “We – all German Universities - face enormous political pressure from right-wing parties. Diversity, gender, internationalisation — all are under attack. Students ask if they still have a future in Germany,” she said.

She described how universities have become democracy’s “last frontier.” Introducing active programms on democracy education in different forms become a central task, as reflected by senior management of many German universities. Her institution particularly reacted to a shocking case, when a Jewish student leader was driven out of student government after October 2023, despite criticizing the Israeli government. “It was an anti-Semitic act. Our Jewish students are now in the closet,” she explained.

Rhine-Waal has responded with de-escalation training for staff, anti-discrimination programs, a task force for safe work and study, and anonymous reporting systems, enabling to report inappropriate incidents. Yet Zimenkova admitted: “Still we cannot reach everyone, but we will keep on trying”

Her boldest proposal is a “Democratic Literacy Semester” — civic education embedded in every program. “Political education has become part of internationalisation. It is about safeguarding democracy itself,” she said.

The Audience Weighs In

The session was interactive, with participants tackling case studies from three handouts (A, B, and C).

• Free Speech vs. Safe Spaces (A1): Participants agreed controversial speakers should not be silenced but must be framed within strong facilitation, clear communication, and invisible security. “Canceling only fuels polarization,” one group concluded.
• Debates on DEI (B1): Dialogue and diverse perspectives were seen as key. “Don’t impose from above. Listen, don’t assume,” participants urged.
• Immigration and Refugee Support (B2): Universities must uphold inclusion, consult legal experts, and support student wellbeing. The “don’ts” were clear: don’t hide information, don’t ignore conflict, and never tolerate hate speech.
• LGBTQ+ Rights vs. Religious Freedom (C1): Clear leadership and dialogue are essential. Engaging opponents through media rather than face-to-face was widely discouraged.

Across the groups, common themes emerged: transparency, process over product, and the value of safe spaces for dialogue.

The Silent Middle

One recurring challenge was how to engage the “silent middle” — the majority of students and staff who do not protest.

An attendee from Helsinki captured the dilemma: “Activists claim to represent everyone, but what about those who just want to learn or do research? Their voices matter too.”

Hardorff responded that The Hague UAS addresses this through its global citizenship mission: “We don’t just educate for jobs. We educate for global citizenship. That helps mobilize those beyond the extremes.”

Zimenkova agreed but emphasized literacy: “Not everyone wants to be political. But they must at least understand the power of democratic structures. Otherwise, representation is lost.”

A Shared Struggle

Despite different contexts, both speakers emphasized solidarity. “None of us are struggling alone,” said Zimenkova. “Together, we can make it.”

Hardorff echoed the sentiment but cautioned against complacency: “In this bubble of like-minded people, we must remember that inclusivity means also engaging those who think differently. The dilemma is how inclusive we can be to views that challenge democracy itself.”

Universities at the Crossroads

The session closed on a note of realism and resolve. Universities cannot avoid polarization — nor should they.

“Show, don’t tell,” Hardorff concluded. “The proof of the pudding is in eating. Our students take what we do into the world outside our walls every day.”

For Zimenkova, the mission is existential: “Universities are the last frontier for democracy. We cannot give up that role.”

As the room dispersed, the sense was clear: higher education has become a frontline actor in Europe’s democratic resilience — and the conversations are only just beginning.