Magna Charta Universitatum
Magna Charta Universitatum is an international declaration on the free and independent role of higher education institutions in society.
The Swedish Defence University signed the Magna Charta Universitatum on 13 November 2025. The Magna Charta Universitatum is an international document that articulates the fundamental principles of the freedom, autonomy and academic values of universities. Signing means that the higher education institution undertakes to promote, support and defend independence.
The original Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) was signed by 388 universities around the world in 1988, on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the founding of the University of Bologna. The purpose of the document was to guide universities in their work to achieve good governance and self-understanding for the future.
Since then, both universities and the environments in which they operate have changed significantly. In light of these changes, an international group was formed to review the Magna Charta Universitatum, resulting in a revised version of the MCU adopted in 2020. Now 975 universities have joined the guidance, of which around 20 in Sweden.