It identifies key principles that are asserted to be essential for the operation of universities, including academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
[1] Initially signed by the rectors of 388 higher education institutions, the number of signatories has subsequently grown to about 1000, with the aim to recognize and celebrate university traditions and to encourage cooperation among European universities.
The Magna Charta Universitatum Europaeum was formally signed by 388 university rectors on 18 September 18 1988 at Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the founding of the University of Bologna.
[5] The Observatory Magna Charta Universitatum was established in 1998 and incorporated in 2000.
[5] 73 universities signed the charter at the annual convention on 18 September 2018, bringing the total to 889, with 13 more having been accepted in 2019.