34 years after the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) was drawn up, the number of signatory institutions increased to 947 universities from 94 countries. These institutions began to incorporate the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy contained in the document into their routines. MCU was created in 1988, in celebration of the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the world. At the time, leaders of European universities drafted a document that aimed to build a global university system in favor of strengthening democracies that they called Magna Charta Universitatum. The text was signed by 388 representatives of higher education institutions from around the world.
Unicamp has signed the document since its creation, as it is committed to freedom of thought and plurality of ideas. “Freedom of thought has never been more important than in recent times, when universities played a fundamental role against science denialism and fake news, for example, warning about the relevance of Covid-19”, says the general coordinator from Unicamp, professor Maria Luiza Moretti.
Access the original document from Magna Charta Universitatum in Portuguese.
In September, the professor participated in the Magna Charta anniversary event, which annually holds a ceremony to welcome new signatory institutions. On the occasion, more than 170 university leaders from 45 countries gathered at the University of Bologna (Italy) to hold round tables and lectures on topics such as human rights, sustainability, universities in the media, academic responsibility and equity policies.
For Moretti, Unicamp can serve as an example to the other signatories in incorporating the principles of Magna Charta. When participating in a panel on sustainability, for example, the general coordinator found that the University was the institution with the highest number of investments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I participated with the intention of listening to the initiatives of other countries and Unicamp made the biggest contribution at the table”, reveals the teacher, who reported experiences such as the International Hub for Sustainable Development (HIDS) and Fazenda Argentina.
Diversity in Universities
In 2018, a multinational group was formed to review the Magna Charta with the aim of adapting it to the context of changes in universities and the environments in which they operate. At the time, Unicamp was the only Latin American representative to participate in the reformulation of the text. This reformulation, although it did not mean the removal of any item when taking into account the original values present at MCU, adds contemporary concerns, especially with regard to diversity and recognition of the global nature of universities.
For Moretti, both science and diversity are essential for Brazil's development. The General Coordinator of Unicamp points out that all countries that have reached a high socioeconomic level are nations that have invested in education and research, training their citizens, something essential for democracies. However, without initiatives aimed at diversity, it is not possible to guarantee everyone's access to these institutions or produce quality knowledge.
“Why does Brazil need initiatives aimed at diversity? Due to our colonial history, with a long period of slavery and extermination of non-white populations, which means that we still have spaces with very little diversity”, observes the professor. “But we also have to maintain vigilance, because we need to focus not only on entering the University, but on policies on permanence and access to the job market, monitoring our students and former students throughout this period, which is quite long. ”, he ponders.
In this context, Unicamp maintains a series of initiatives to promote policies such as racial and gender equality and student access and retention. In addition to the quota program and the indigenous entrance exam, the University has student assistance services such as food, transportation and housing grants for students in conditions of socioeconomic vulnerability. “It was a great surprise to the participants to hear that, in addition to the University being free, students receive financial support from Unicamp. We have unique activities, in relation to the outside world, that need to reach these institutions. I left there very proud of our university”, he reports.
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Unicamp reflects on its values
In defense of freedom and autonomy
