VID has signed the Magna Charta Universitatum
- Published: December 2nd 2025. Updated: December 15th 2025.
With this, VID joins over 1000 universities internationally that collectively embrace the values of freedom in teaching and research, research and teaching as inseparable, and the autonomy of academic institutions.
VID has been working on the application to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum for a long time, and the joy was great when the institution received the positive decision in October. As signatories, VID joins the Magna Charta Universitatum and commits to disseminating and implementing the values it is based on.
"It was a great honor to sign the Magna Charta on behalf of VID", says Ellen Marie Sæthre-McGuirk, Pro-Rector for Education at VID.
"With this, we want to continue our work to promote free and independent thinking and intellectual development and innovation that engages and motivates employees and students at VID", she says.
Opens doors for collaboration
Sæthre-McGuirk points out that there are several other Norwegian universities that have signed the Magna Charta, but she specifically highlights the international institutions that have also signed.
"We want to learn more from several of these and would like to collaborate with them in the future", she says.
The Pro-Rector for Education traveled to London together with VID student Maiken P. Hansen.
"We were able to attend the Magna Charta conference, and she was also present during the signing. It was a very nice day", summarizes Sæthre-McGuirk.
Magna Charta Universitatum
The original Magna Charta Universitatum was first signed by 388 universities from around the world in 1988, on the 900th anniversary of the founding of the University of Bologna. The document contained fundamental principles for higher education, including academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The purpose was to guide universities in achieving good governance and self-understanding in the future.
By signing the Magna Charta Universitatum, VID demonstrates its commitment to the principles, values, and responsibilities set out in the document. We make a clear declaration to everyone, locally, nationally, and internationally, that VID operates independently, free from all political influence and economic interests, and that it maintains, promotes, and protects academic values and freedom in a responsible manner.
Furthermore, we affirm that teaching and research are inseparable and that students are encouraged to be fully engaged, responsive, responsible, and reliable partners to serve society, businesses, and other stakeholders. Finally, we declare that we are proactive participants in addressing global and societal challenges and concerns and preparing students for the future. We will do this by providing education, creating public goods through scholarly and professional social activity, and engaging with students so that they can become responsible democratic citizens.
With this, VID and the other signatories collectively strengthen the role of universities in promoting health, prosperity, and the best of the community worldwide.