The Responsive and Responsible University

Launch of the MCO Research Project and invitation to MCU signatories to participate

  • Date: 19 JANUARY 2023  from 15:00 to 16:00

  • Event location: Online event

  • Type: Special Events

Much is spoken and written about the responsibilities of universities. These are obviously affected by the political and cultural context in which universities work. The Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 says unequivocally that ‘Universities acknowledge that they have a responsibility to engage with and respond to the aspirations and challenges of the world and to the communities they serve, to benefit humanity and contribute to sustainability’.

Further, ‘to fulfil their potential, universities require a reliable social contract with civil society, one which supports the pursuit of the highest possible quality of academic work, with full respect for institutional autonomy’.

 

But what does this look like in practice? And how might universities best go about being responsive and responsible with the many and various constraints within which they have to operate so as to gain and retain the trust of society?

 

We know that many universities are finding it difficult. Hence the Magna Charta Observatory is launching a research project. It is inviting signatory universities to join in with the project by undertaking reflexive research into their successes and failures with a view to the findings assisting other MCU signatories to reflect on their practices and adapt and reform where necessary.

 

The MCO has issued a formal invitation to participate which can be seen here: RESEARCH PROJECT DETAILS

 

The MCO hopes that signatory universities will see this project as a way of both developing their own activities and contributing to the global MCO community of signatories.

 

To learn more Giga Zedania Chair of the MCO’s research committee hosted a webinar on 19th January.  Please, watch the recording here below.

 

Recording of the Webinar - The responsive and responsible university

Programme

14.55 Opening access to participants at Zoom 15.00 Introduction by the chair

Giga Zedania, Chair of the MCO Research Committee

 

 

15.10 The MCO Research Project - reasons and purpose

David Lock, MCO Secretary General

 

 

15.15 Conceptual Framework

Chris Brink, Member of the MCO Research Committee

 

 

15.25 MCO signatories' expression of interest - details

John Davies, Member of the MCO Research Committee

 

15.35 Q&A

 

16.00 End of the webinar