Universities, Governments, and Democracy

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24.10.2024

On October 23, 2024, in Washington D.C., the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) held its annual symposium. The Magna Charta Universitatum is a document that outlines principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, serving as a guideline for good governance and self-understanding of universities. Collegium Civitas, a signatory of the Magna Charta, was represented at the symposium by the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Dr. Katarzyna Maniszewska.

The event was organized by the Magna Charta Observatory in association with PEN America and hosted at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. The theme of the symposium was “Universities, Governments, and Democracy: International Challenges and Lessons Learned.” Taking place just two weeks before the U.S. Presidential elections, the event focused primarily on the challenges facing universities in North, Latin, and Central America, while also incorporating perspectives from Europe. Panel discussions addressed the challenges and offered perspectives on safeguarding academic freedom, autonomy, governance, diversity, communication, and the roles of students and faculty members.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Prof. Ron Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University, and Prof. Patrick Deane, President of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory. Both speakers emphasized the critical role of academic freedom in preserving democracies, noting that even the most robust democracies are vulnerable to autocratic tendencies.

The first panel, titled “So what’s the problem?” focused on the threats, limitations, and challenges facing universities, and the underlying reasons behind the threats to academic freedom and autonomy. The discussion was enriched with examples from speakers such as Jeremy C. Young, Programme Director – Freedom to Learn, PEN America, and Prof. Marcelo Knobel, Former Rector of UNICAMP, Brazil. Moderated by Emma Pettit from The Chronicle of Higher Education, the panel highlighted issues such as communication and visibility, contributing to the erosion of trust in academia.

The second panel, titled “Why do autonomy and academic freedom matter?” was chaired by Prof. Catharine Stimpson, Professor and Dean Emerita of the Graduate School of Arts and Science at New York University. It featured insights from Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities; Liviu Matei, Head of the King’s School of Education, Communication & Society at King’s College London; and Martina Darmanin, former President of the European Students’ Union. Among the cases discussed was the forced relocation of Central European University from Budapest to Vienna due to restrictions on academic autonomy. The panel underscored the importance of sharing best practices and educating decision-makers at both European and global levels, stressing the vital role of higher education institutions in democratic societies and the importance of protecting freedom of speech from governmental restrictions.

In her closing remarks, Prof. Amy Binder, Interim Director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, reflected on how universities can help address the decline of democracy. She emphasized the need for enhanced academic collaboration to effectively confront these challenges, noting that the Magna Charta provides a crucial platform for advocacy and the support of academic freedom worldwide.

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