In light of growing authoritarianism and democratic decline worldwide, the Global Forum on Higher Education 2025 Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission will be held on 3–4 June 2025 at Charles University in Prague. This exclusive, high-level event aims to reinforce the role of higher education in promoting democratic values and civic responsibility on a global scale.
The forum is co-organized by the Council of Europe, the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy, the International Association of Universities, and the Organization of American States, with support from the Czech Ministry of Education and Charles University. Around 140 influential leaders from academia, government, student organizations, and civil society across all continents are expected to participate.
Highlights of the event include a keynote address by Patrick Deane of Queen’s University (Canada), plenary sessions discussing universities’ global democratic responsibilities, and interactive workshops focused on academic freedom, crisis-driven partnerships, and civic engagement. The closing panel will outline actionable policy steps to strengthen higher education’s democratic mission. Opening remarks will be delivered by Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe, alongside Czech officials and representatives from partner institutions.
A side event will feature the unveiling of a new Council of Europe report addressing emerging threats to academic freedom. The forum aims to spark meaningful global dialogue, showcase best practices, and build collaborative strategies to revitalize democracy through higher education.
