Istinye University (ISU) signed the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) 2020 document and became a member of the Magna Charta Observatory. In a ceremony hosted by Lodz University on October 25, 2023, the MCU 2020 document was signed by Prof. Dr. Hatice Gülen, the Vice Rector of Istinye University.
The Magna Charta Universitatum is a document signed on September 18, 1988, by 388 rectors and university presidents on the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna. The MCU 2020 represents a crucial declaration and confirmation of the core principles that should form the foundation of the mission of universities on a global scale. It not only reinforces the essential concepts of academic freedom and institutional autonomy initially outlined in the 1988 document but also expands upon them to align with the contemporary global landscape of universities. This expansion acknowledges the profound responsibilities that universities have towards the communities they engage with, aiming to advance human well-being and contribute to the sustainability of our planet. The Magna Charta Observatory (MCO), supported by the European University Association (EUA), is a council formed based on these principles. The MCU declaration is based on three specific fundamental principles. The first principle emphasizes that research and education should be independent of economic and political powers. The second principle states that education and research are inseparable, and students are in pursuit of acquiring and understanding knowledge. The third principle highlights that universities create a space for free "inquiry and debate" within a framework of dialogue and tolerance, defining their distinctive characteristics.
The Magna Charta Observatory, while adhering to these core principles, initiated a study in 2018 to adapt to current developments such as the rapidly increasing number of universities worldwide, diversity, and changing missions. They recognized the need to determine the responsibilities and obligations that the signatory parties believe are vital for universities operating around the world in the 21st century. The MCU 2020 document, reflecting this perspective, was opened for signatures on March 12, 2020.
Universities that signed MCU 2020 declare their commitment to the principles, values, and responsibilities outlined above and pledge to work towards strengthening the role of universities in issues such as preserving the planet and supporting global health, well-being, and enlightenment.
With the signing of the MCU 2020 document, Istinye University, acting with a sense of responsibility and consciousness of being a university, officially became one of the members of the MCO. This development is a significant step towards emphasizing ISU's commitment to institutional autonomy and academic freedom on the international stage.
For more information about Magna Charta, you can visit site.unibo.it/magna-charta/en & magna-charta.org/agenda/universities-and-re-construction-of-cities-the-role-of-research-and-education
