Between Tradition and Innovation: Universities as Places of Knowledge from the Middle Ages to the Foundations of Modern Knowledge Societies

The conference Between Tradition and Innovation: Universities as Places of Knowledge from the Middle Ages to the Foundations of Modern Knowledge Societies, organised by the Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Atelier Héloïse, will take place on 13 and 14 November 2025 at the Academic Conference Centre (Husova 4a, 110 00 Praha 1).

Programme

Universities have always been central hubs of knowledge production, dissemination, and transformation. From their emergence as scholastic institutions in the Middle Ages, they have constantly navigated the tension between tradition and innovation. In this dynamic process of continuity and change, universities have played a crucial role in shaping intellectual progress while simultaneously being influenced by profound social, political, and technological transformations.

A particular emphasis is placed on European universities in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, epochs of profound transformation that laid the foundations for modern knowledge societies. Also welcome are contributions dealing with later periods.

The Atelier Héloïse Workshop in Prague explores the challenges universities face as actors in knowledge spaces, situated at the intersection of tradition and innovation. The focus lies on understanding the factors that have shaped universities as centres of intellectual exchange, institutional adaptation, and global networking. The workshop examines how universities and their members have responded to external challenges and opportunities, whether through successful adaptation or failed strategies.

Incorporating insights from digital history, the workshop also aims to explore how new digital tools and methods can deepen our understanding of the historical development of universities and their impact on knowledge societies.