Webinar: Global Solidarity, Learning, and Action to Renew Higher Education’s Democratic and Civic Mission – Apr 9
Posted by Netter Center for Community Partnerships on March 17, 2026
The “Global Forum on Higher Education 2025: Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission” took place in Prague, June 2025. In the months leading up to the Forum and those since, the attacks on democracy, academic freedom, and higher education have accelerated at an alarming rate. Global collaboration, shared learning, and solidarity among the higher education community is needed to preserve and advance democracy during this critical time.
This webinar will extend the global dialogue on key themes and takeaways from this timely Global Forum. This includes, among other things, a focus on educating for democratic citizenship, prioritizing student voice and agency, protecting academic freedom as a right and a responsibility that upholds democratic principles, leveraging universities as democratic civic anchors in their local communities, rebuilding public trust, and restoring the social contract between higher education and society at large.
Moderator: Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
Opening remarks:
- Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, International Association of Universities
- Yadira Pinilla, Senior Specialist, Department for Human Development, Education and Employment, Organization of American States
Panelists:
- Timothy K. Eatman, Professor of Urban Education and Inaugural Dean of Honors Living-Learning Community (2016-2026), Rutgers University – Newark (New Jersey)
- Syndia A. Nazario-Cardona, Associate Vice President of Government Affairs & Institutional Relations, Ana G. Mendez University (Puerto Rico)
- Francis W. Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Pretoria; Chair of Universities South Africa
- Kirsten Roberts-Lyer, Associate Professor and Chair of Human Rights Programme, Central European University (Austria)
Closing remarks: Ira Harkavy, Chair of the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy; Barbara and Edward Netter Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania
Date and Time: April 9, 2026, 9:00 AM
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