From 14 to 16 October, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) in Vilnius will host the annual conference of the Magna Charta Observatory (MCO), bringing together university leaders, higher education policymakers, experts, and representatives of academic communities from around the world. This international event, being held in Lithuania for the first time, will focus primarily on how universities can respond to geopolitical, social, and institutional changes while preserving their fundamental values. Conference participants will actively discuss issues that are highly relevant today – academic freedom, institutional autonomy, democracy, international cooperation, student engagement, and the responsibility of universities to society.

The Conference Themes Through the Perspective and Experience of the Secretary General of the Magna Charta Observatory

The conference theme, “Beyond Resilience: Universities as Active Value-Driven Agents in a Changing World,” was not chosen by chance. It reflects the challenges universities face today and encourages participants to reconsider which values need to be preserved, why change and leadership are necessary, and what is needed to address the current global challenges.

David Lock, Secretary General of the MCO, will actively participate in the conference programme. At the pre-conference event, he will moderate a discussion among rectors from the Baltic States and present the Organisation’s annual report, discussing its plans, projects, and progress. He will also introduce participants to the role of universities in preparing for EU accession, with Ukraine as a case study.

On the first day of the conference, D. Lock will chair the session “The Artificial Intelligence Challenge – approaches and outcomes” which will feature Jekuk Chang, President of Dongseo University of South Korea. According to D. Lock, this topic is particularly important when considering the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, because “Universities should keep abreast and ahead of Artificial Intelligence developments, liaise with stakeholders and ensure that Artificial Intelligence is used responsibly, ethically and for the good of society.” The programme will also include a discussion entitled “Peace, Artificial Intelligence, and Humanism,” joined by Massimiliano Marianelli, Rector of the University of Perugia (Italy).

It is important to note that D. Lock has been actively involved in the work of the Observatory since 2014. He has extensive international experience in international higher education leadership and governance, having worked with universities and governments in more than 30 different countries. D. Lock is also an educator and a chartered secretary who has worked with numerous international organisations and provided consultancy on a range of issues, including international development and higher education governance projects in the United Kingdom. He currently chairs the Gulf Education Conference and serves on the International Advisory Committee of the British Council.

Reflecting on his experience of MCO events since 2014, D. Lock observes that the organisation’s focus has become more practical over the years:

“There has been a movement from speeches about the fundamental values themselves and why they are important, to how universities can actually have impact through implementing them.”

D. Lock hopes that conference participants will be inspired by the experience and innovations that will be shared by the speakers in response to their own situations as well as the potential of the Organisation’s “Living Values” project.

According to D. Lock, the concept of “beyond resilience” also refers to the need to change the connection between universities and the societies around them. Asked what universities should do to become active, value-driven agents, he gave a simple answer: “The short answer is to engage more effectively with society.”

He emphasised that such engagement should not be limited to government institutions. In line with their mission, universities should cooperate with international, national, regional, and local communities, professional organisations, and other bodies, depending on their mission. Engaging with stakeholders proactively, hearing their voice and responding through their research and teaching, in D. Lock’s view, should help both societies and universities.

From Resilience and Autonomy to Engagement

The anniversary conference invites participants to view universities not only as resilient institutions but also as initiators of change that foster democratic values, social progress, and responsible leadership. Speaking about the actions universities need to take today to move beyond resilience and actively defend and promote these values in a rapidly changing world, as well as about the role universities should play in creating a safer, more democratic, and sustainable world, Lock emphasised that one of the key topics of the conference is the pressure universities face in different parts of the world.

According to him, the pressures on universities from governments around the world, forces to reduce the autonomy of universities and restrictions on academic freedom need to be addressed in a way that will enable universities to understand them, live by the fundamental values set out in the Magna Charta Universitatum and to confidently have a positive impact on society. 

“The specific examples that will be featured in the panel sessions will be inspiring to other universities around the world and will show the power of values in practice,” he said.

International perspectives will be particularly important in these discussions. Representatives of different countries and higher education systems gathering in Vilnius will be able to compare experiences and explore ways of applying shared university values in different contexts. D. Lock hopes that the practical examples and discussions will provide participants with new ideas that they can take back to their own institutions.

The conference in Vilnius reflects the broader direction of the MCO’s work: moving from the question of why university values matter to the question of how those values can shape institutional decisions, everyday practice, and relationships with society. According to D. Lock, the challenge for universities today is not merely to remain resilient in a changing world, but to draw on their values and knowledge to actively contribute to shaping its future.