Speaker: Independent education expert, Sjur Bergan

Abstract:
One characteristic of the populist surge in Europe and the United States is its disregard for academically based knowledge and understanding. It is therefore urgent that higher education demonstrate its importance to society.

The role of higher education is rooted in its values and in providing the knowledge and understanding democratic societies need to remain democratic.  One way higher education can demonstrate how it affects people’s lives positively is by working with – and not just in – the local communities of which universities are a part. The local mission of universities complements its national, European, and global missions.

Europe is a diverse continent, and there is no single model of community engagement. Nevertheless, some common denominators can be identified, and these will be explored in the talk. The local mission of higher education must be not just economic but societal and democratic.  Contradictory as it may seem, the local democratic mission also requires some kind of platform or coordination at European level to put the local democratic mission on the political agenda, exchange examples of good practice, and build a European approach.

Bio:
Sjur Bergan is an independent education expert. He was Head of the Council of Europe’s Education Department until February 1, 2022. Sjur represented the Council of Europe in the Bologna Follow Up Group and Board between 2000 and April 2022 and chaired working groups on structural reforms in 2007 - 15. He was a member of EHEA groups on the fundamental values of higher education 2018 – 24 and a key author of the statements on fundamental values adopted by EHEA Ministers in May 2024.

Sjur led the Council of Europe contributions  to the Global Cooperation on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education (with partners in the US and International Association of Universities), Competences for Democratic Culture and the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees.  He was a main author of the Lisbon Recognition Convention as well as of recommendations on the public responsibility for higher education; academic freedom and institutional autonomy; and ensuring quality education. 

Sjur was series editor of the Council of Europe Higher Education Series. He is the author of Qualifications: Introduction to a Concept and Not by Bread Alone as well as of European Higher Education, Social Responsibility, and the Local Democratic Mission, published by Temple University Press in March 2025. He holds honorary doctorates from Dublin City University (2022) and the University of Oslo (2024) and is the recipient of the 2019 European Association for International Education Award for Vision and Leadership.

Chair: Professor Susan Wright, Co-Director of CHEF, DPU, Aarhus University, Denmark