Join us to reflect on the principles of academic freedom & university values. Spread the information & stay tuned! Details & registration below.
Date:
Event location: King's College London, London, UK
Type: Magna Charta Anniversaries
The raison d'être of the university remains the production, transmission, curation, dissemination and use of knowledge. Universities pursue their mission in interaction with society and for the benefit of society. This interaction is governed by formal regulations, but also by an evolving social contract, which stipulate rights for the university communities and obligations they have towards the society as well as responsibilities of the public authorities vis-à-vis higher education.
Recognizing the variety of traditions and contemporary circumstances in higher education around the world, Magna Charta Universitatum, first adopted in 1998 and revised and restated in 2020, https://www.magna-charta.org/magna-charta-universitatum/mcu2020 has contributed significant elements for a global social contract. It outlines the centrality of values in the work of universities (such as academic freedom, integrity, institutional autonomy, public responsibility) and articulates value-based guidelines for the exercise of both rights and obligations, within institutional contexts and in the broader society. Magna Charta was signed by higher education institutions from all continents, expressing their commitment to these fundamental values and the common understanding of key elements of a social contract applicable globally.
At present, however, in a highly fragmented world, what is this social contract? Is it changing? How are responsibilities of higher education and for higher education understood, codified, and practiced? Is there a balanced and productive understanding of both rights and responsibilities within the sector itself and in the interplay with the public authorities? Or maybe not quite?
The remarkable milestone of 1,000 signatories of Magna Charta Universitatum is anticipated to be reached at this meeting. By raising these questions, this global anniversary gathering proposes to interrogate directly the uneasy, yet fundamental question of what are universities for in our contemporary world.
Pre-conference session
King's College London
Bush House, Strand Campus
30 Aldwych, London
13.00 Magna Charta – facing the challenges - the next 5 years
Patrick Deane
President, Magna Charta Observatory Governing Council, Canada
David Lock
Secretary General, Magna Charta Observatory
13.30 The research agenda – findings to date and next steps
Giga Zedania
Chair of the Research Agenda
Case study presentations
Ilya Khadzhynov
Rector, Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University, Ukraine
Mary Deasy and Catherine Bates
Technological University Dublin, Ireland
14.15 Living Values – evidence of impact
David Lock
Secretary General, Magna Charta Observatory
Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Newcastle University, United Kingdom
15.00 Refreshment break
15.30 Future-generations – Student essay winners
The MCO introduces:
Daniel Adeloa, Nigeria
Fatima Masood, Pakistan
Winners of the 2024 competition, who will present their essays
16.15 Insights from the US: Introducing the MCO’s engagement with North America
Chair:
Patrick Deane
President, Magna Charta Observatory Governing Council, Canada
Lynn Pasquerella
President, American Association of Colleges and Universities, USA
Scholars at Risk Network, USA
Questions and discussion
17.30 Close of afternoon session
17.45 Welcome drinks reception and networking
Free evening
What are universities for?
Higher education principles, values and responsibilities in a fragmented world.
Conference
King's College London
Bush House, Strand Campus
30 Aldwych, London
08.30 Registrations open
09.30 Welcome and Introductory remarks
Shitij Kapur
Vice-Chancellor & President of King's College London
Patrick Deane
President of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Canada
09.50 Keynote addresses
Public responsibility of higher education vs public responsibility for higher education in our fragmented world
Learning from the UK experience
David Willetts
President of the Resolution Foundation, Former UK Minister of State for Higher Education and Science
To be followed by questions and discussion
11.15 Refreshment break
11.45 Codifying responsibilities and rights in higher education: views from outside the sector
Panel with the following speakers from international organisations:
Jonathan Becker
Vice-Chancellor, Open Society University Network
Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Director, Center for Civic Engagement
Cezar Mihai Haj
Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI), Romania
Amy Reid
Senior Manager, Freedom to learn, PEN America, USA
David Akrami Flores
ead of Section Erasmus+ Key Action 3: Policy Support, DAAD, Germany
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Fulfilling responsibilities and rights – views from within the sector
Panel with some of the following international organisations:
European Students Union - ESU, Belgium
Hilligje van’t Land
Secretary General International Association of Universities - IAU, France
UUK
EUA
Academic Freedom and Internationalisation Working Group (AFIWG), United Kingdom
15.30 Refreshment break
16.00 Parallel sessions
17.30 Close of afternoon session
19.00 Conference Gala Dinner
Speaker: Michael Mainelli
695th Lord Mayor of the City of London
Dress code: Business formal
Ceremony for the Signature of the Magna Charta Universitatum MCU 2020
King's College London
The Chapel
Strand Campus, Strand, London
10.00 Arrival of participants
10.30 Ceremony for the signature of the MCU2020
Opening remarks
Shitij Kapur
Vice-Chancellor & President, King's College London
Giovanni Molari
President, Magna Charta Observatory,
Rector, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna
Keynote
Signature of the Magna Charta Universitatum
Words of thanks on behalf of Signatories
Concluding remarks
Patrick Deane
President, Magna Charta Observatory Governing Council
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen's University, Canada
The ceremony will be held in English
12.00 Closing buffet Lunch
