Date:
Event location: Bologna
Type: Magna Charta Anniversaries
Aula Magna di Santa Lucia
Via Castiglione 36
18- 20 September 2008
Background
On 18 September 1988, on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna, 388 Rectors of universities from all over Europe and beyond gathered in Bologna to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum. For the first time, they confirmed the importance of the fundamental principles and values of the University. Soon, this document became a milestone for the understanding of higher education.
In order to mark this historic event, the Magna Charta Observatory organised the annual conference to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum, looking both at the past and the future.
The Magna Charta Universitatum – despite its European origins – has developed into a globally accepted declaration of the academic tradition. Josep Bricall and Fabio Roversi-Monaco, who both were amongst the originals writers of the Magna Charta Universitatum, provided an overview of the developments of the University until the most recent challenges.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, gave a keynote speech on the importance of institutional autonomy and academic freedom for the development of society in economic, cultural, scientific, technological and social aspects.
The Magna Charta Observatory had organised a series of meetings in preparation of the anniversary event to discuss the future of the university. As a result of those meetings, Jon Torfi Jonasson wrote an essay, which he presented during the conference. Martina Vukasovic from the Centre for Educational Policy in Belgrade and Eva Egron-Polak, Secretary General of the International Association of Universities, commented on the essay during the conference.
Whilst the values laid out in the Magna Charta Universitatum are the same, universities are operating in different contexts. Therefore, presentations from the North America, Latin America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East provided an overview about the challenges in the respective regions.
Further interventions were made by Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union, Sjur Bergan, Head of the Higher Education Division at the Council of Europe, Robert Quinn, Director of the Scholars at Risk Network and Georges Haddad, Director of the Higher Education Division at UNESCO.
The conference brought together more than 300 people from all over the world, representing their universities and international organisations. The presentations can be found in the Proceedings of the conference.
Write to us if you wish to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum
We are very happy to introduce this short movie that we produced to remember the signature of Magna Charta and its principles. That principles are an explication of the idea of freedom: the freedom that since the beginning identified the history of the university. The body’s freedom, over the all: in fact, Bologna was the first European city that abolished the slavery. The freedom of scientific research, the free dialogue with the religious truth, the freedom of movement of the people that passed through the universities along the centuries. Scholars and professors that created, across the borders, a common European culture, the freedom, at last, to teach and to affirm the primacy of the consciousness and of thought. Those ideas were peculiar of the university at the moment of his born like today: and it is for this reason why this movie crosses past and present, showing you the abolishment of slavery and the laurea honoris causa to Nelson Mandela; the Galileo’s telescope and the laurea honoris causa to Andreij Sacharov, the theological medieval tradition and the visit of Pope Woijtyla, the picture of Desiderio Erasmo and the students that currently visit our universities thanks to the Erasmus project. These moral values, this original spirit, live into the Magna Charta, signed exactly twenty years ago.
The Magna Charta Observatory has created a philatelic cancellation to Celebrate the XX Anniversary of the Signature of the Magna Charta Universitatum. On the postcard is reproduced the logo of Magna Charta, designed by Pirro Cuniberti, native of Bologna, currently considered one of the most famous Italian painter. On the postcard, instead, it appears the image of Giosuè Carducci, Italian poet, Nobel prize for literature and official speaker of eight Centenary of Bologna’s University.
Arrival of participants
Aula MagnaSanta Lucia, Via Castiglione 36, Bologna
Welcome remarks, Pier Ugo Calzolari, Rector, University of Bologna
Reasons to celebrate and introduction of speakers, Michael Daxner, President of Magna Charta Observatory Council
The Purpose of Academic Freedom Today, Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia
Award to the writers of the Magna Charta Universitatum and words of thanks
From the Origins of the University in Europe to the Universities of the Globalisation, Fabio Roversi-Monaco, Honorary President of Magna Charta Observatory and Josep Bricall, former member of the Magna Charta Observatory Council
Procession and introductory remarks, Pier Ugo Calzolari, Rector, University of Bologna
Signing
Words of thanks by three signatories
The future of the Magna Charta Observatory, Michael Daxner, President of Magna Charta Observatory Council
The problems of academic freedom in Central Asia between interventions and democracy, Sharif Fayez, Founding President, American University of Afghanistan and former Minister of Higher Education
Making Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy Real in Boundary, Mala Singh, Open University, United Kingdom
20th anniversary Gala Dinner followed by Alma Jazz session
Aula Magna Santa Lucia, Via Castiglione 36
A university is the trustee of the European humanist tradition; its constant care is to attain universal knowledge; to fulfil its vocation it transcends geographical and political frontiers, and affirms the vital need for different culture to know and influence each other.
Introduction of speakers, Pavel Zgaga, Former Minister of Education, Slovenia
Welcome address, Mariastella Gelmini, Minister of Education, University and Research, Italy
Capacity for Autonomy, Academic Freedom and Democracy, Tatjana Volkova, Chair of Latvia’s Rectors Council
Public responsibility and institutional autonomy – Where is the balance? Sjur Bergan, Head of Department of Higher Education, Council of Europe, Strasbourg
Comparative Autonomy, comparative freedom – Observations of a global higher education researcher, Philip G. Altbach, Director, Center for International Higher Education, Monan University, United States of America
Freedom in research and training is the fundamental principle of university life, and governments and universities, each as far as in them lies, must ensure respect for this fundamental requirement. Rejecting intolerance and always open to dialogue, a university is an ideal meeting-ground for teachers capable of imparting their knowledge and well equipped to develop it by research and innovation and for students entitled, able and willing to enrich their minds with that knowledge.
Introduction of speakers, Üstün Ergüder, Magna Charta Observatory Council
The effects of private philanthropy on human rights and academic freedom, Ahmet Tosun Terzioglu, President, Sabanci University, Turkey
Freedom in research and training, a principle to be respected by governments and universities? Jean-Marc Rapp, Vice-President, European University Association, Brussels
Student freedom in university life, Ligia Deca, Chairperson, European Students’ Union, Brussels
Teaching and research in universities must be inseparable if their tuition is not to lag behind changing needs, the demands of society, and advances in scientific knowledge.
Introduction of speakers, Aleksa Bjelis, Magna Charta Observatory Council
The identity of tomorrow’s university, Presentation of an essay on the future of universities, Jon Torfi Jonasson, University of Iceland
Reactions by Martina Vukasovic, Director, Centre for Educational Policy, Serbia and Eva Egron-Polak, Secretary General, International Association of Universities, Paris
The university is an autonomous institution at the heart of societies differently organised because of geography and historical heritage; it produces, examines, appraises and hands down culture by research and teaching. To meet the needs of the world around it, its research and teaching must be morally and intellectually independent of all political authority and economic power.
Introduction of speakers, Koen Geven, Magna Charta Observatory Council
Universities addressing global challenges, Georges Haddad, Director of the Division of Higher Education, UNESCO, Paris
Academic freedom and the individual, Robert Quinn, Director Scholars at Risk Network, USA
The Magna Charta’s global future, Michael Daxner, President, Magna Charta Observatory Council
Aula Magna Santa Lucia, Via Castiglione 36
Magna Charta contextualised – Interventions from different regions
Central Asia: Zhanseyit K. Tuymebayev, Minister of Education and Science, Republic of Kazakhstan
Higher Education in Egypt and the Middle East A Magna Charta Universitatum Perspective: Mohamed Loutfi, Director of International Development, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Latin America: Moises Wasserman, Rector of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Africa: La Tashia Satterfield, Programme Officer, All-Africa Students Union
North America: Robert L. Caret, President Towson University, United States of America
Conclusions, Ken Edwards, former Chair of the Magna Charta Observatory Board of Directors
Roundtable about the conclusions
Roberto Grandi, Vice-Rector University of Bologna, Italy
Agneta Bladh, Rector Kalmar University, Sweden
Bergthora Snaebjornsdottir, Academic Affairs Committee, European Students’ Union, Brussels
Bastian Baumann, Secretary General, Magna Charta Observatory
Closing of the 20th anniversary event
