We are pleased to announce that the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wroclaw is the first art university in Poland to be invited to ratify Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 - a declaration of the most essential, timeless academic values. Ratification of the document confirms that these values are principals for the community of the University ratifying the document.

The document, which is a declaration of academic freedom in the broadest sense, understood as the independence of the University from ideological, political and economic influences, freedom of research, freedom of expression, culture of dialogue, tolerance of those who differ from one's own views and combining scientific activity with teaching, in its original version was created in 1988 on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna - the oldest such institution in Europe. At the time, it was signed by nearly 400 universities from around the world, and among them was our partner university, the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, which was also the first music university in this honorable group. Among the first academic institutions to sign the declaration were 12 universities from Poland, including: Jagiellonian University, Wroclaw University of Technology or the University of Silesia. The late 1980s were a time of many changes and challenges, so three principles of MCU were set: independence, inseparability of research and teaching, and openness.

The first principle was independence, according to which research and teaching must be intellectually and morally independent of all political influences and economic interests.

The second principle was the assumption of the inseparability of the results of research from the content of teaching, with student engagement striving to seek knowledge and better understand it.

The third principle defined the university as a place of free inquiry and debate, distinguished by its openness to dialogue and rejection of intolerance.

The Magna Charta Universitatum grows out of the legacy of the Magna Carta Libertatum, or Great Charter of Liberties, issued on June 15, 1215 by England's King John Without Land. The Magna Charta Universitatum recognized that universities adhering to these principles could take many forms due to cultural, geographic and historical diversity. Although the document was the product of a specific moment in the development of Europe, it envisioned a networked world in which knowledge and influence should transcend cultural boundaries in the pursuit of human understanding. Since then, universities have grown in number around the world, significantly expanding their activities and missions. The number of students seeking university education and scientific publications 

while trust in academia is declining due to a loss of confidence in expertise. Influenced by new technologies, modes of learning, teaching and research are evolving rapidly, and universities are both initiating and responding to the changes taking place. 

The principles set forth in Magna Charta Universitatum are as relevant today as they were in 1988, and are a prerequisite for human progress through inquiry, analysis and sound action. The dramatic changes described above require the academic community to define the commitments that the signatories consider crucial for universities around the world in the 21st century. This is the reason for the new declaration Magna Charta Universitatum.

Principles, values and responsibilities
Universities consider it their duty to engage and respond to the aspirations and challenges of the world and the needs of the communities they serve in order to benefit humanity and contribute to sustainable development. Intellectual and moral autonomy is the hallmark of every university and a condition for fulfilling its duties to society. This autonomy must be recognized and respected by governments and societies as a whole, and actively protected by the institutions themselves.

To realize their potential, universities need a credible social contract with civil society that supports the pursuit of the highest possible quality of academic work, with full respect for institutional autonomy. By creating and disseminating knowledge, universities challenge dogma and established doctrines and encourage critical thinking among all students and scholars. Academic freedom is their driving force; open inquiry and dialogue are their sustenance. Universities have a duty to teach and conduct research in an ethical and honest manner, producing reliable, credible and accessible results. Universities have a civic role and responsibility. They are part of global, collegial networks of research and scholarship, building on and contributing to shared bodies of knowledge. They are also embedded in local cultures and are critical to their future and enrichment. While immersed in and connected to global developments, they fully engage with and play a leading role in local communities and ecosystems. Universities are non-discriminatory spaces of tolerance and respect where a diversity of perspectives flourishes and where inclusivity, rooted in principles of equality and justice, prevails. As such, they are committed to promoting equality and equity in all aspects of academic life, including admission, hiring and promotion practices.

Education is a human right, a public good, and should be available to all. Universities recognize that learning is lifelong, and higher education is one part of a continuum. Universities recognize that individuals and communities, often due to unfair circumstances, have difficulty accessing higher education or influencing the ways and matter of academic study. In order to harness human potential around the world, universities are intentionally seeking ways to welcome and engage diverse voices and perspectives.

By signing the Magna Charta Universitatum 2020, universities declare their commitment to the original declaration and to uphold and advance the principles, values and responsibilities outlined above, in order to strengthen the role of universities in protecting the planet and promoting health, prosperity and enlightenment around the world.

The invitation to sign the MCU is a great honor for the academic community we have created. Our efforts to disseminate musical knowledge and culture, our involvement in the local community, our aspirations to support and develop young talents and their sound education in a space open to dialogue have been recognized. Among the nearly 1,000 signatories from more than 90 countries are just two universities specializing in music education - the aforementioned Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien and Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz.

For more information on the declaration, visit Magna Charta Universitatum - MCU 2020.