The Magna Charta Universitatum is a document that was signed by 388 rectors and heads of universities in 1988, for the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna. It was drafted during a meeting organised by Carmine Romanzi, then President of the CRE. It contains principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy as a guideline for good governance and self-understanding of universities in the future.

In 1998, to ensure the application of the Magna Charta principles, the rector of Bologna and Joseph Bricall, then President of the CRE, launched its Observatory. It operates as an extraordinary advisory body, or crisis-unit and monitors the international situation of universities.

The Bologna Process is a governmental action taken following the Magna Charta, which lead to the Bologna declaration signed by education ministers from 29 countries in 1999.

The files focus on the foundation of the Observatory Magna Charta Universitatum, from its structuration to its official launching meeting. They also concern, in a minor way, the Bologna process.

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