The Magna Charta Universitatum document was signed on behalf of KU by Rector Prof. Artūras Razbadauskas during a ceremony held on 13 November at King’s College London. On that day, the signatures of leaders from 38 universities around the world were added, including the milestone one-thousandth signature.
The Magna Charta Universitatum was created and first signed in 1988 in Bologna, marking the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna. It defines the fundamental principles of academic activity—university autonomy, freedom in the creation of knowledge, and responsibility to society. Today, in the context of shifting geopolitical, social, and informational environments, the charter once again highlights the role of universities: the ability to act independently in the face of complex global challenges, to create knowledge responsibly, to empower students, and to maintain a strong connection with society.
According to KU Rector Prof. Artūras Razbadauskas, the Magna Charta Universitatum is more than a symbolic document. It clearly articulates the relationship universities must maintain with politics and societal expectations.
“This charter defines university autonomy. It is one of the first international documents of the academic community to declare explicitly that a university is not merely an instrument of national interests but an independent institution of culture and science. It is a document that outlines the autonomy of universities and states that universities must determine for themselves how they will develop. Decisions should not be imposed from the outside, especially by politicians. Universities must remain independent and self-governing,” emphasized Prof. Razbadauskas.
Reflecting on the current situation in Lithuania, the Rector notes that university leadership is gradually weakening.
“In today’s geopolitical context in Lithuania, the leadership role of universities is diminishing. This is evident even in the actions of politicians—although most of them graduated from higher education institutions, they often underestimate the significance of university autonomy. This indicates that universities, in educating their graduates, do not always fully convey the understanding that universities are autonomous institutions of great importance to society and that this autonomy must be safeguarded.”
It is expected that this document will not only strengthen international cooperation but also guide university communities in the right direction—fostering students’ political awareness, patriotism, and other core values.
“By signing this document, we declare to Klaipėda and to the state that we are part of the global community of universities. This declaration unites more than a thousand universities. They collaborate, they carry collective strength, and they convey a shared message to the world. Speaking from my own perspective, I believe we must devote more attention to our students, fostering their sense of patriotism and political understanding because, as I mentioned, they study with us, and therefore it depends on us which path they will choose in the future,” said the KU Rector.
