Prague Declaration

Published on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the birth of King of Bohemia and Roman Emperor, Charles IV, founder of Charles University in Prague

Building upon the inspirational legacy of notable medieval universities, as well as upon the legacy of King of Bohemia and Roman Emperor, Charles IV, who gave consent to the establishment of eleven of them, and feeling a shared responsibility for the state of the world today, we publish this declaration in Prague, on the occasion of our meeting.

Since their very beginning, universities have always played an important role in European national states. Scientific, artistic and educational activities of universities in Italy, England, France, Spain and in central Europe were extremely important not just for the nurturing of science, art and education itself, but universities also cooperated closely with prominent scholars and members of political elites – such as Charles IV – who had established them and often turned to them for advice, consultation or much appreciated support for his ideas and plans.

Universities were already then aware of their unique position, as well as of the fact that knowledge and education represent inalienable values of immense importance. Universities were also places for gatherings, free discussions and exchange of opinions, which led not just to new scientific discoveries, but also to better understanding of “the other”, and thus to tolerance and cultivation of society as a whole.

University teachers prepare young people for their future involvement in society, which will in many aspects be different than it is today, particularly taking into account that their students will reach their professional height twenty or maybe even more years after they leave university. Thus, they should be able to adapt to changing social conditions – and should be willing to accept the ever-changing world without any prejudice. Top science and research – which push knowledge beyond the seeming limits of human abilities – are not the only obligations of modern universities. They must also analyse the state of the world today and interpret processes and phenomena that might seem unclear at first sight. An educated “citizen of the world” is less likely to accept simple solutions. And it is the education of such people that universities should strive for.

In today’s globalised world, the role of universities has lost none of its past significance. Our world has changed dramatically since the era of Charles IV, but the critical mind of free men and women and the free exchange of opinions were, are and will be the most powerful tools and the most precious values in our civilisation. We cannot solve any of today’s global problems without science and education. The importance of basic and applied research also grows as we are flooded with information of all kinds and the world of today becomes more and more difficult to understand. Quite often, people act as if the universal values upon which our modern society was built over the centuries and upon which it still stands, values such as humanism, tolerance and openness – all essential parts of democracy – exist no more, and as if it were possible to relativize almost anything. Universities are here to remind them that it is not so – that such values still exist and are worth fighting for.

Prague, 13 May 2016

Prof. Dorothy Kelly

Executive Board Chair of the Coimbra Group

Dr. Andrew Graham

Chair of the Europaeum Academic Council

Prof. Luciano Saso

President of UNICA

Prof. Tomáš Zima

Rector of Charles University

Kateřina Valachová

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports