25/09/2026
From Academic Freedom to the “Intellectual Big Bang”: Academic Leaders from Around the World to Gather in Vilnius
From 14 to 16 October, Vilnius will host the anniversary event of the Magna Charta Universitatum Observatory for the first time in Lithuania, bringing together university leaders, higher education experts and students to discuss the role of universities in a rapidly changing world.
This year’s conference theme is “Beyond Resilience: Universities as Active Value-Driven Agents in a Changing World”. The programme will focus on academic freedom and institutional autonomy, the role of universities in strengthening democracy, security challenges, artificial intelligence, and how higher education can help shape the future of society.
“Universities must not only speak about their values. We must nurture and defend them,” says Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, Rector of MRU and President of the Conference of Rectors of Lithuanian Universities.
On 14–15 October, the event will take place at Mykolas Romeris University, before moving to Vilnius University on 16 October for the official Magna Charta signing ceremony. The ceremony will be opened by VU Rector Prof. Dr Rimvydas Petrauskas, followed by a keynote address by European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on the role of universities in achieving technological and societal breakthroughs and the “Intellectual Big Bang”.
During the ceremony, the Magna Charta will be signed not only by new university signatories, but also by the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA).
👉 Learn more about the event and programme: https://www.mruni.eu/en/news/from-academic-freedom-to-the-intellectual-big-bang-academic-leaders-from-around-the-world-to-gather-in-vilnius/
