16. October 2026 | Erfurt School of Education, Faculty of Education, Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, Faculty of Catholic Theology, Max-Weber-Kolleg, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Economics, Law and Social Sciences, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, International

A visible symbol of academic freedom, university autonomy and regional responsibility

By signing the "Magna Charta Universitatum", the University of Erfurt has joined the more than 1,000 universities that now support the charter. The University’s application for admission to the ranks of signatories was made following a resolution of the senate at the end of the 2025/26 winter term. The formal induction into the list of signatory institutions has now taken place as part of this year’s conference of the Magna Charta Observatory in Vilnius, Lithuania.

“In view of the global and local challenges facing universities worldwide, both now and in the future, the signing of the Charter not only sets out the University of Erfurt’s self-image but also sends an important signal to our international partner institutions and our regional community,” explains the Vice President for International Affairs, Professor Beate Hampe, who signed the Charter on behalf of the University of Erfurt. Alongside the Vice-President, Amélie Arlandt also attended the Magna Charta Observatory conference as a representative of the students at the University of Erfurt.

The “Magna Charta Universitatum” sets out the guiding principles for the self-image of higher education institutions worldwide. It defines the principles adopted by the signatory institutions regarding academic freedom, institutional autonomy and good institutional governance, as well as the ethical responsibility arising from the creation of knowledge and the social responsibility of higher education institutions within their regional context.

These principles also underpin the University of Erfurt’s commitments to openness to the world, internationality and interculturalism in teaching, research and campus life, which it reaffirmed as part of its second internationalisation strategy of February 2026. The signing of the Charter is therefore prominently recorded in its preamble, following a resolution by the senate in February 2026. Membership of the Charter is valid for five years.

video recording of the ceremonial signing of the “Magna Charta Universitatum” on YouTube