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Joan Guàrdia today began his second term as rector of the University of Barcelona, ??an institution that he will lead for six more years. At the inauguration ceremony, he highlighted two of his priority objectives: “the completion of strategic projects for the city and the country”, in reference to the consolidation of the axis dedicated to health on Diagonal, with the expansion of the Hospital Clínic and the Barcelona Science Park as key pieces, and “the internal transformation of the University with the approval of a new statute”, which will allow the UB to be more agile and flexible. In front of a packed auditorium filled with an air of solemnity, Guàrdia declared that “the right conditions now exist to build a new reality, with the complicity of the administrations, that allows us to take a leap forward.” The event was attended by the Minister of Universities and Research, Joaquim Nadal; the president of the Social Council of the UB, Joan Corominas; the delegate of the Spanish government in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto; the mayor of Barcelona, ??Jaume Collboni; the mayor of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Núria Parlon; the mayor of Cornellà de Llobregat, Antonio Balmón, and all the previous rectors of the University of Barcelona, ??among other personalities.
During the event, the rector also referred to the new legislative changes that universities have to face, such as the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) or the Law of Science, about which he said that they must be deciphered in terms positive to be able to grow. Likewise, he has renewed the institution’s commitment to the most deeply rooted university values: “Equality, diversity, inclusion, freedom, science as a criterion and knowledge as an argument.”
Immediately afterwards, Guàrdia highlighted two more priority elements: the digitalization of the University, whose deployment must continue with the UniDigital projects, and the students as the centerpiece of the actions, which must become “the protagonist of their own journey.” within the University.
Finally, the rector stressed that “the Catalan university and research system is a shared and collaborative coordination project”, and stated: “[In] a world in which barbarity is present every day, as we see in Ukraine and Israel, the UB has to have the light on permanently to build a more just and balanced reality. “Light, science and rigor: this is the path,” he concluded.
Government support
In his speech, the Minister of Research and Universities, Joaquim Nadal, highlighted that “now is the time for university policy.” “All universities in Catalonia have an unavoidable challenge for the future that we have to do together,” he said, “and that has to be based on transparency and the will to build a future based on credibility.” “[We have to] be able to make a leap with respect to the inertia that holds us back.” Likewise, he has stressed that bureaucracy and administration must not be obstacles for institutions to “work together and move in the right direction.”
Finally, the president of the Social Council, Joan Corominas, wished the rector luck and success, and marked as priorities for the UB “the consolidation of the axis dedicated to health on Diagonal, the achievement of a more flexible organization and governance more effective, and the determined commitment to innovation and transfer.
Inauguration of the new government team
After the rector, the new government team has taken office, made up of the following positions:
• Marina Solé Catalán, general secretary
• Glòria Matalí Costa, manager
• Ernest Abadengo Falgueras, vice chancellor assistant to the chancellor and of Teaching and Research Personnel
• Agustí Alcoberro Pericay, Vice Chancellor of Culture, Memory and Heritage
• Maria Concepcion Amat Miralles, vice-chancellor of Teaching Policy
• Víctor Manuel Climent Sanjuán, vice-rector of Labor Relations
• Maria Pilar Delgado Hito, vice-rector for Academic Policy
• Màrius Domínguez Amoroso, vice-chancellor of Permanent and Professional Training
• Maria Feliu Torruella, vice-rector of Doctorate, Personal Researcher in Training and Talent Attraction
• Marta Ferrer Garcia, vice-rector for Students and University Life
• Jordi García Fernández, vice-rector for Research
• Maria Elena Lauroba Lacasa, vice-rector for Organization and Governance
• Lluís Medir Tejado, deputy general secretary
• Montserrat Puig Llobet, vice-rector for Equality, Inclusion and Gender
• Raúl Ramos Lobo, vice-rector of Internationalization Policy
• Maria Teresa Sauras Yera, vice-rector for Sustainability and Climate Action
• Mercè Segarra Rubí, vice-rector of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer
• Xavier Maria Triadó Ivern, vice-chancellor of Digitalization Policy
• Miquel Joan Vidal Espinar, vice-rector for Quality Policy
Guàrdia won the elections of December 4 and 5 with 65.89% of the weighted vote.
The event, presented by journalist Carla Turró, could be followed on UBtv.
