Magna Charta Observatory Research Project “The Responsive and Responsible University”

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?

The Magna Charta Observatory 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.

Find out more and register for the information webinar on 19 January at 15.00 CET.