University of Zagreb once again signs on to the Magna Charta Universitatum. It is a document that was originally signed by 388 rectors and heads of universities from across Europe and beyond on September 18th 1988, the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna. It contains fundamental principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy as guidelines for good governance and self-understanding of universities in the future.
In 2018, a multi-national group was formed to review the Magna Charta Universitatum in the context of changes to universities and the environments in which they operated that had occurred since 1988. This was informed by a wide consultation and was adopted by the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory in July 2020.
The new document, MCU 2020, removes nothing from the original fundamental values to which the universities signed up. It strives to be responsive to and resonate with contemporary challenges and concerns. Its tone recognises that the pursuit of the fundamental values has worth along with their actual attainment, which, in practice, is a constant quest. It recognises the more global nature of what universities do and the wider range of local responsibilities which they have.
The Magna Charta Observatory is a signatories' association, independent from political organisations or interest groups. The signatory universities – through their rectors, presidents and vice-chancellors, who act on behalf of their institutions – are connected to the organisation by their commitment, present and future, to comply with the principles of the Magna Charta Universitatum. The Observatory undertakes its work to ensure the integrity of intellectual and scientific work in Institutions and society, thus reinforcing trust in relationship between universities and their communities, be they local, regional, national or global.
University of Zagreb Rector, Professor Damir Boras, Ph. D., signed the MCU 2020 on May 14th 2021.
The MCU 2020 document can be found at the LINK.
The document's official presentation will be held virtually on June 16th and 17th 2021. Details regarding registration will be available soon.
