Public Engagement

The engagement movement in higher education has taken on an important international aspect. In June 2006, the Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research organized a Global Forum in Strasbourg. A delegation of 37 U.S. college and university presidents attended the forum. The Forum adopted a Declaration that asserts

The Commitment of Higher Education

As higher education leaders and policy makers we affirm our commitment to democratic principles and practice; our conviction that higher education has an essential role in furthering democratic culture; and our responsibility to educate each successive generation to renew and develop the attitudes, values and skills needed for this to become a reality. We recognize that the contribution of students as well as academic and non-academic staff to this effort is essential.

We further affirm our conviction that complex environmental, economic and societal issues can only be solved at the local, national and global levels if citizens can combine basic democratic values with a knowledge and understanding of the relationship of these challenges.

We subscribe to the responsibility of higher education to foster citizen commitment to sustainable public policies and actions that go beyond considerations of individual benefits.

We accept our responsibility to safeguard democracy, and promote a democratic culture, by supporting and advancing within higher education as well as society at large, the principles of:

• Democratic and accountable structures, processes and practice;

• Active democratic citizenship

• Human rights, mutual respect and social justice

• Environmental and societal sustainability

• Dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts

The Higher Education and Democratic Culture web site has information on activities by the member institutions and instructions on how to participate.

An important international movement could be getting underway.

Links:
Higher Education and Democratic Culture web site: http://dc.ecml.at/
Declaration http://dc.ecml.at/index.asp?Page=Declaration