Magna Charta Universitatum is an international declaration on the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy that over 900 heads of universities from all over the world have signed. Umeå University officially joined the Magna Charta in 2008 and the Vice-Chancellor has now signed a revised version of the 2021 declaration.
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
On 27 April, the Vice-Chancellor signed the revised version of Magna Charta Universitatum. The declaration expresses a number of principles stating that universities are autonomous, have academic freedom and are independent from politics and religion.
"Umeå University fully supports the principles addressed in the Magna Charta Universitatum and, based on the university's basic values, signing the declaration is natural. To stand up for academic freedom and autonomy in a time when we see these values being threatened is important," says Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.
Signing the declaration again means that the university is still connected to the Observatory of the Magna Charta and declare to follow the principles of the declaration, which intends to ensure the integrity of intellectual and scientific work at higher education institutions in relation to their communities.
"The declaration describes important prerequisites to conduct our assignment as a university and satisfy society's needs of independent research and high-quality education," says Hans Adolfsson.
Background to the Magna Charta Universitatum
The Magna Charta Universitatum was originally signed in September 1988 during the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna. At that point, 388 heads of universities from all over Europe signed the declaration – a number that has since increased to 900 signatures from heads of universities in 88 countries across the world.
Do you have questions?
Learn more about the Magna Charta Universitatum and the university's international co-operations: https://www.umu.se/samverkan-och-innovation/internationella-samarbeten
Please contact Per Nilsson, analyst at the Planning Office:
per.a.nilsson@umu.se, +46 90-786 68 66