From 3 to 4 June 2025, academic leaders, policymakers, students, and civil society actors gathered in Prague for the Global Forum on Higher Education: Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission. The Global Forum, hosted by Charles University in Prague and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, marked the eighth instalment of a collaborative effort between the Council of Europe and the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy, including also the Organization of American States and the International Association of Universities. Held at a time of growing democratic uncertainty, the Forum offered a vital space for reflection, exchange, and commitment.
The Forum opened with a powerful keynote address by Professor Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Canada, who reminded participants that when democracy is under threat, education is not neutral. He urged the higher education community to resist authoritarian drift and stand firm in defence of academic freedom. His call resonated throughout the two days of discussions focused on resistance, renewal, and responsibility.
Across plenary sessions, workshops, and side events, participants explored how universities can renew their democratic and civic purpose, support democratic values, and build resilience in the face of global challenges - from populism and polarisation to digital disinformation and the erosion of academic norms. Students and youth voices played an important role, advocating not only for inclusion but for co-creation of university missions rooted in civic responsibility.
Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe, stressed the urgency of the moment: “This Forum couldn’t be more timely. Around the world, trust in institutions - academic, scientific, democratic - is under pressure. Populism thrives on uncertainty and disinformation. Our shared response must be rooted in education, openness, and civic responsibility.”
He further highlighted the Council of Europe’s commitment to advancing this agenda through the New Democratic Pact - “an initiative focused on restoring trust and strengthening democratic institutions, with education and higher education at its heart.”
With a clear-eyed view of the shifting global landscape, Marie-Anne Persoons, Chair of the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Education (CDEDU), inspired participants to see this moment as an opportunity for bold reinvention: “The older world order will never come back. Now is the time for universities to reinvent higher education to shape a democratic future in global solidarity.”
As the Forum closed, one message stood clear: higher education is not a bystander in the struggle for democracy. It is a cornerstone. And this global gathering marked not an end, but a beginning - of renewed alliances, sharper strategies, and collective action.
Learn more about the Global Forum:
Global Forum on Higher Education 2025 - Education
Global Forum on Higher Education 2025 – Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission - Education
