September 26, 2019 | 17:13
Society
Declaration on Academic Freedom presented at YSU ceremony
At a ceremonial session of YSU Academic Council held today, the Declaration on Academic Freedom was formally presented. This document outlines the fundamental principles and values that underpin the operation of universities.
The declaration emphasizes the significant role of the academic community in preserving universal values and national identity. In the face of contemporary societal changes, universities encounter both external and internal challenges. To effectively address these challenges, universities must possess genuine institutional autonomy grounded in academic freedom.
Declaration on Academic Freedom
Yerevan State University, representing the unified will of its entire community, draws upon the provisions of the Magna Charta Universitatum, the requirements of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training regarding the autonomy of higher education institutions, and the relevant articles of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the Law on Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education,
DECLARES:
The institutional autonomy of universities is a vital guarantee for fulfilling their educational, research, and socio-cultural missions, as well as ensuring academic freedom.
The institutional autonomy is founded on effective participatory governance and the ensuring of academic freedoms.
Full realization of institutional autonomy requires all necessary conditions to safeguard academic freedom.
Academic freedom is key to a university’s competitiveness, the development and implementation of innovative programs, the enhancement of academic effectiveness, and the depoliticization of the academic process.
Academic freedom must lie at the core of every member of the academic community's activity. This implies that:
The university guarantees the independence of educational and research processes from external and internal influences that contradict academic freedom.
Every member of the academic community is free to conduct research and publish their results, while also being expected to duly fulfill other relevant responsibilities.
Educators and learners are free in their professional discussions within the auditorium setting.
Every member of the academic community has the right to express opinions on matters of public importance, which also entails responsibility.
The only limitation on academic freedom is individual and collective responsibility and commitment to the institution, society, and the state.
