This working paper examines freedom of association and staff participation in decision-making in higher education. The paper briefly presents the principal issues related to these topics and provides some current examples to illustrate the issues. The paper builds on the report of the Joint ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendations concerning Teaching Personnel (2003), which stated that freedom of association is “at the core of the ability of higher education to undertake teaching and research of good quality”.