Global Forum
The Democratic Mission of Higher Education
Organised by the Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education, the Global Forum is an invitational conference on the democratic mission of higher education. The forum is designed to engage senior leaders in higher education to help build a global movement to fulfill this democratic mission.
The Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education is comprised of th IAU, International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility and Democracy, the Council of Europe (CoE) Steering Committee for Education, and the Organization of American States. Alongside the Organization of American States, the IAU joined the pre-exisiting cooperation between International Consortium and the Council of Europe in 2022.
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Read IAU refelctions from the 2025 Global Forum here.
Context:
Democracy is in crisis throughout the world, with political developments threatening the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Higher education, science, and the pursuit of knowledge are similarly faced with significant challenges at this time. More than ever, colleges and universities have a crucial role to play in the development and preservation of democratic societies. This moment calls for higher education to actively embrace its civic and democratic purposes, as well as stand for and exemplify democratic values including diversity, inclusivity, tolerance, equity, and open inquiry.
The attacks on academic freedom, higher education as a public good, human rights, and democracy itself have accelerated at an alarming rate. It is more important than ever that the global higher education community—including institutional leaders, faculty, students, public authorities/ government partners, and civil society—come together.
The 2025 Global Forum’s particular focus was on bringing voices from diverse regions around the world together for sharing information, understanding, and collaborative solutions to what specifically can be done to renew higher education’s civic and democratic mission in order to preserve, strengthen, and advance democracy during this time of growing autocracy and authoritarianism. The Forum brought together 100 leaders from 34 countries across 5 continents to contribute to this global movement.
Materials from the Global Forum 2025
Global Forum on Higher Education 2025 – General Rapporteur’s Report
Global Forum on Higher Education 2025 (official Forum webpage)
Program for Global Forum 2025 (full brochure and program agenda)
Campus Compact blog: “Renewing Higher Education’s Civic and Democratic Mission in Prague”
Photos: Global Forum on Higher Education 2025: The Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission (professional photos)
Remarks
Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University (Canada), President of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory, and Vice-President of the International Association of Universities (IAU)
Ira Harkavy, Opening Remarks presented at the Global Forum, 3 June 2025
Ira Harkavy, Barbara and Edward Netter Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, Chair of the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy
Ambassador Jacinth Henry-Martin, Opening Remarks presented at the Global Forum, 3 June 2025
Jacinth Henry-Martin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Organization of American States (OAS)
Václav Velčovský, Deputy Minister / Director General of International Affairs, EU and ESIF, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic
The 2025 Global Forum was hosted by IAU Member Charles University in Prague in partnership with The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
Learn more on the International Consortium Global Forum webpage.
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Context:
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and deepened extreme inequities both in and across countries, as well as highlighted the fragility of democratic systems. At the same time, demands for basic human rights, social and racial justice, and economic equity are increasing in many parts of the world. These developments are occurring as the planet has reached and daily exceeds a climate tipping point.
The need for higher education to promote sustainability and racial and social justice, as well as advance and maintain democracy has never been more apparent.
The 2022 Global Forum on “Higher Education Leadership for Democracy, Sustainability, and Social Justice” gathered some 100 participants from 40 countries to contribute to an international movement that reimagines how universities and colleges work with local and global partners to create more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable democratic societies. The Forum provided a unique opportunity for representatives from around the world to critically explore and actively contribute to realizing higher education’s democratic mission. In addition, a pre-conference was hosted by DCU in the Community.
The 2022 Global Forum serves as the first gathering co-hosted by the Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education formed in 2021 between the Council of Europe, the International Association of Universities, the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility and Democracy, and the Organization of American States. It marks the seventh global forum convened by the Council of Europe and the International Consortium who have worked in cooperation since 1999.
Materials from the Global Forum 2022
Book based on the Global Forum (part of the Council of Europe Higher Education Series, No. 26) – available via Open Access
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In 2022, the IAU and the Organization of American States joined the pre-exisiting cooperation between International Consortium and the Council of Europe. Prior to 2022, the International Consortium and the Council of Europe had held six collaborative conferences. Information about the 2011, 2014, 2017, adn 2019 conferences is available on the International Consortium website here.