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Ilia State University participated in the Anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum MCU 2020, held at King’s College London, where the international higher education community once again demonstrated steadfast commitment to the fundamental values upon which the University’s mission and vision are built.

On 13 November, the Chancellor of Ilia State University, Ms Ketevan Darakhvelidze, formally signed the Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 in London, alongside other signatory universities.

Ilia State University has been a signatory to the Magna Charta Universitatum since 2020 and is an active member and supporter of the Magna Charta Living Values project.

Professor Giga Zedania, Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Ilia State University, serves on the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory for a second term.

• The document places particular emphasis on two fundamental principles and values - institutional autonomy and academic freedom - as essential and inseparable foundations for the existence, mission and core functions of a university.
• At a time when these principles in Georgia are under pressure and threat, the renewed Magna Charta MCU2020 serves as a symbolic reminder that universities must remain open, independent, inclusive and academically free spaces. The hallmark of a university is its intellectual and moral independence - freedom from political pressure and undue economic interests. This independence underpins professional quality, educational standards and public trust. Research and teaching are inseparable processes that must be conducted through open dialogue and critical inquiry.

The first Magna Charta (1988) was signed during the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna and now unites more than 1,000 signatory universities worldwide. Its renewed version (2020) reaffirms the fundamental principles of universities while also responding to contemporary global developments: technological transformation, diversification of the higher education sector, challenges to public trust, and the expanding role of universities in promoting democracy, wellbeing and sustainable development.

Ilia State University remains committed to its mission - to uphold the European values of higher education and to strengthen the role of the university in Georgia’s democratic and knowledge- based development.

2025