On November 13, the University of Rzeszów officially became a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum, one of the most important international documents defining the principles of academic freedom and university autonomy. The signing ceremony, held at the King’s College chapel in London, was attended by the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, Prof. Adam Reich.

It is particularly noteworthy that the number of Magna Charta Universitatum signatories continues to grow dynamically. During this year’s ceremony, Dalarna University became the 1,000th signatory of the document, and with the addition of other institutions—including the University of Rzeszów—the total number of universities collectively upholding fundamental academic values has risen to 1,011.

Towards Strengthening Academic Freedom

The Magna Charta Universitatum was first adopted in 1988 by 388 universities. In 2020, the document was revised to emphasize universities’ renewed responsibility towards society, the need to respond to global challenges, and their active role in promoting sustainable development.

The updated version of the document states, among other things: “Universities recognize that they have a duty to engage with and respond to the aspirations and challenges of the world and the communities they serve, in order to benefit humanity and contribute to sustainable development.”

As highlighted during the ceremony, in times of increasing political pressure, challenges to the role of universities, and attacks on higher education autonomy around the world, the significance of the Magna Charta Universitatum continues to grow.

The Ceremony in London

During the event, strong voices called for the defense of research freedom and the independence of academic institutions. Sjur Bergan, former Head of the Education Department of the Council of Europe, emphasized: “Without academic freedom and institutional autonomy, we cannot speak of high-quality teaching and research, nor of a fully functioning democracy.”

One of the central themes of the conference was the need to strengthen the resilience of academic institutions against both political and financial threats, while highlighting their role in society through building trust and fostering broad cooperation.

Why Signing the Magna Charta Universitatum Matters

For many universities, including the University of Rzeszów, signing the document sends a clear signal of solidarity with the global academic community. Robert Quinn from Scholars at Risk reminded attendees that universities are currently fighting for credibility: “One side is trying to convince the public that universities have nothing to offer. This is a lie. If we can show that it is a lie, and prove that we act for the benefit of our communities, we have a chance to win this battle.”

The University of Rzeszów in the Global Community of Freedom-Defending Academic

Joining the signatories of the Magna Charta Universitatum is not only an honor for the University of Rzeszów, but also a commitment—to defend traditional academic values and actively participate in shaping responsible higher education.

This decision positions the University of Rzeszów within the international movement supporting:

· Academic freedom

· University autonomy

· Responsibility towards society

· Global scientific cooperation

· Commitment to sustainable development

Signing the Magna Charta Universitatum represents an important step in further strengthening the University of Rzeszów’s position on the European and global higher education map.