School of Education

Dr Yulia Nesterova has been selected as a Fellow in NORRAG's Academic Freedoms Fellows Scheme in Europe hosted by the Geneva Graduate Institute and supported by the Open Society Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. This programme supports scholars working to understand and protect academic freedoms across varied political and institutional contexts. As part of the Fellowship, Dr Nesterova will lead a research project titled "Risk and Resilience: How scholars from authoritarian and illiberal regimes navigate dangers of researching their home countries." The project investigates how academics working on politically sensitive topics manage surveillance, censorship, intimidation, and other forms of risk, and how they develop strategies and networks that allow them to continue their work safely and ethically. The research will generate insights for universities, funders, and international organisations committed to supporting at‑risk scholars and safeguarding academic integrity. Dr Nesterova’s selection recognises her strong track record in research on peacebuilding in divided contexts, securitisation and militarisation of education in authoritarian states, and social justice more broadly. Her work will contribute to a deeper understanding of how scholars navigate transnational repression and how the academic community can better protect those working under threat.

First published: 26 March 2026