The UB honours the contribution of its chairs and classrooms to research and teaching

Group picture.
Group picture.
News | Institutional
(10/10/2023)
The Paranymph Hall of the Historic Building of the University of Barcelona hosted an event to recognize the contribution of the UB chairs to teaching and research. This form of university-business collaboration has grown exponentially, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in recent years. While in 2018, the UB had eight chairs, which accounted for around 230,000 euros per year, today, there are fifty-six chairs with an income of over 2.2 million euros.
Group picture.
Group picture.
News | Institutional
10/10/2023
The Paranymph Hall of the Historic Building of the University of Barcelona hosted an event to recognize the contribution of the UB chairs to teaching and research. This form of university-business collaboration has grown exponentially, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in recent years. While in 2018, the UB had eight chairs, which accounted for around 230,000 euros per year, today, there are fifty-six chairs with an income of over 2.2 million euros.

The rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, said during the event: "Society commissions us to generate knowledge". "It sounds easy, but it is not. We have to generate it and manage it, and disseminate it so that it is useful to people. Chairs are the fundamental element for this function. The idea that the university and business live in separate worlds is being left behind", he concluded. 

The UB's vice-rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer, Mercè Segarra, said that the chairs are very valuable: "Over the last few years, we have become more flexible, we have created the sub-brand that identifies us and a new website. And what is more important: we have reached the number of sixty chairs and classrooms". 

The professor of the UB Faculty of Philology and Communication, Estrella Montolío, director of the UB-DIBA Chair in Clear Communication Applied to Public Administrations, spoke on behalf of all the UB's chairs and classrooms. She said that "in a world of uncertainty and complexity, the keys to success are the diversification of talent, multidisciplinary teams, spontaneous conversations, horizontal teams, highly motivated people and creativity". “Chairs are the element that must bridge the gap between the university and society", she concluded. 

Laia Mas, Director of Public Affairs at Danone Iberia, spoke on behalf of the promoting entities. About the UB Danone Chair in Healthy and Sustainable Food, she said that it allows them to have contact with the teaching staff and to promote the knowledge of the students, "who are indispensable agents of change for the future". 

Finally, the president of the Board of Trustees of the UB, Joan Corominas, thanked the companies for their commitment and contribution: "They are a new funding channel that the university should promote and the government should encourage".

The Rector presented 22 diplomas of recognition to the new promoters.
The rector awarded diplomas of recognition to the patron entities that have created UB chairs in collaboration with the UB for the years 2022 and 2023. More than 125 people attended the event, including directors of UB Chairs and representatives of the companies.

Of the UB's 60 chairs, 42% are in the field of health sciences, 25% in the social sciences, 16% in experimental sciences, 9% in the humanities and 8% in education. By campus, the Campus Clínic and the Diagonal Campus have the highest concentration of chairs. 

Multimedia gallery

The rector, during the event.

Estrella Montolío, director of the UB-DIBA Chair in Clear Communication Applied to Public Administrations, spoke on behalf of all the UB's chairs and classrooms.

Estrella Montolío, director of the UB-DIBA Chair in Clear Communication Applied to Public Administrations, spoke on behalf of all the UB's chairs and classrooms.

Laia Mas, Director of Public Affairs at Danone Iberia, spoke on behalf of the promoting entities.

Laia Mas, Director of Public Affairs at Danone Iberia, spoke on behalf of the promoting entities.

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Acte de reconeixement a les càtedres i aules UB

Pictures of the event.

The rector awarded diplomas of recognition to the patron entities that have created UB chairs in collaboration with the UB for the years 2022 and 2023. More than 125 people attended the event, including directors of UB Chairs and representatives of the companies.