Universities engaging with society in turbulent times – that, at least was the title of a conference of the Magna Charta Observatory, held last September in Bologna.
The Observatory is the custodian of the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU), a document that sets out principles of academic freedom, institutional intellectual and moral autonomy, and responsibility towards society.
The Magna Charta, which dates back to 1988, is a unifying statement of the fundamental values of universities, of what they do, and what they are for. An updated version of the Magna Charta published in 2020 recognises the international global applicability of this message, enshrining the interconnected nature of the challenges that impact on universities.
Protecting academic freedom and institutional autonomy, and the need for universities to understand their responsibilities towards society, are as important as ever. So is demonstrating all of this to external stakeholders.
