This anniversary will be a pivotal moment to reflect on the principles of academic freedom and university values. We hope you will join us. Feel free to spread the information, and stay tuned!
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.
1300 Magna Charta – facing the challenges - the next 5 years
President of the Governing Council - Patrick Deane
Secretary General – David Lock
1330 The research agenda – findings to date and next steps
Chair of the Research Agenda – Giga Zedania
Case study presentations
Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University
Dublin University of Technology
1415 Living Values – evidence of impact
Secretary General – David Lock
Durban University of Technology – South Africa
Newcastle University - UK
1500 Refreshment break
1530 Future-generations – Student essay winners
1615 Insights from the US: - Introducing the MCO’s engagement with North America
1730 Close of afternoon session
1745 Welcome drinks reception and networking
Free evening
0830 Registrations open
0930 Welcome and Introductory remarks
0950 Keynote addresses
Public responsibility of higher education vs public responsibility for higher education in our fragmented world
Learning from the UK experience
To be followed by questions and discussion
1115 Refreshment break
1145 Codifying responsibilities and rights in higher education: views from outside the sector
Panel
1300 Lunch
1400 Fulfilling responsibilities and rights in higher education: views from within the sector.
Panel
1530 Refreshment break
1600 Parallel sessions
a) Engaging faculty
b) Engaging students
c) Engaging professional administrators
d) Preparing sector leaders
e) Engaging industry, commerce and the professions
1730 Close of afternoon session
1900 Gala Dinner
1000 Arrival of participants
1030 Ceremony
Opening remarks
Address
Signature of the Magna Charta Universitatum
Words of thanks on behalf of Signatories
Concluding remarks
1400 Close of Conference
