Jönköping University to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum

The Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) is an international declaration of the role that universities have in society. The document establishes the basic values of higher education institutions, including autonomy, independence, dissemination of knowledge, and the important relationship between education and research.

“Jönköping University (JU) supports the fundamental values that many European universities have agreed upon in the Magna Charta Universitatum. It is important for JU to safeguard autonomy, freedom in research and education, and international mobility. Signing this charter means that we will be included in an academic community that shares common values, within Europe and in other countries across the world,” says Agneta Marell, President of Jönköping University.

JU applied to become a signatory of the MCU in February 2021 and has now had this application approved.

“The application process required us to provide details of JU policies and practices relating to autonomy, academic freedom and how we integrate these into our operations. It is great to know that the governing council deemed our guiding documents and practices to be compliant with the principles outlined in the Magna Charta Universitatum,” says Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Senior advisor to the President, International Relations, Jönköping University.

The signatory universities are connected to the organisation through their commitment to follow the principles of the MCU. Signing, which will take place digitally this year, is scheduled for June 2021.

About the Magna Charta Universitatum:
The MCU was established at the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna on 18 September 1988. The document was initially signed by 388 European university presidents, a figure that today includes 900 signatures representing 88 countries. The MCU is independent of political organisations and interest groups and is seen as a constitutional document of value for the international university community and which the signatory universities pledge to support, promote and defend.

The fundamental principles of MCU are that:

• The university is an autonomous institution.
• Teaching and research in universities must be inseparable.
• Freedom is fundamental in research and education and is something that the governments and the Universities must ensure respect for.
• The university must strive to attain universal knowledge.

More information about the Magna Charta Universitatum can be found here External link, opens in new window..