Joan Guàrdia begins his second term as head of the UB: "The right conditions are in place to take a leap forward".
Imatge: Andreu Puig, departament d'Universitats i Recerca.
News
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Institutional
(15/01/2024)
Joan Guàrdia began today his second mandate as Rector of the University of Barcelona, an institution he will lead for six years. At the inauguration ceremony, he highlighted two of his top objectives: "the completion of strategic projects for the city and the country", referring to the strengthening of the axis dedicated to health on Avinguda Diagonal, with the expansion of the Hospital Clínic and the Barcelona Science Park as key elements, 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 full Paranymph Hall and dressed with an air of solemnity, Guàrdia declared that "the right conditions are now in place to build a new reality with the complicity of the administrations that will allow us to take a leap forward".
Imatge: Andreu Puig, departament d'Universitats i Recerca.
News
|
Institutional
15/01/2024
Joan Guàrdia began today his second mandate as Rector of the University of Barcelona, an institution he will lead for six years. At the inauguration ceremony, he highlighted two of his top objectives: "the completion of strategic projects for the city and the country", referring to the strengthening of the axis dedicated to health on Avinguda Diagonal, with the expansion of the Hospital Clínic and the Barcelona Science Park as key elements, 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 full Paranymph Hall and dressed with an air of solemnity, Guàrdia declared that "the right conditions are now in place to build a new reality with the complicity of the administrations that will allow us to take a leap forward".
Among the attendants were the Catalan Minister for Universities and Research, Joaquim Nadal; the President of the Board of Trustees of the UB, Joan Corominas; the Spanish government delegate 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 former rectors of the University of Barcelona, among other personalities.
During the event, the rector also referred to the new legislative changes that universities must face, such as the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) and the Ley de la Ciencia, which he said we have to "decipher in positive terms in order to grow". He also 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".
Afterwards, Guàrdia highlighted two priority elements: the digitalization of the University, the deployment of which must continue with the UniDigital projects, and the students as the centrepiece of the actions, that will become "the protagonist of their journey within the University".
Finally, the Rector stressed that “the Catalan university and research system is a shared and collaborative coordination project”. He said: [In] a world in which barbarity is present every day, as we see in Ukraine and Israel, the UB must keep the light permanently on to build a fairer and more balanced reality". "Light, science and rigour: this is the path", he concluded.
The Government’s support
In his speech, the Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, Joaquim Nadal, stressed that "now is the time for university policy". “All the universities in Catalonia face an inevitable challenge for the future, which we must face together — he said —, and which must be based on transparency, on the will to build a future based on credibility. "We must be able to take a leap forward regarding the inertia that is holding us back". He also stressed that bureaucracy and administration should not be obstacles for the institutions to "work together and move in the right direction".
The president of the UB's Board of Trustees, Joan Corominas, wished the rector luck and success, and highlighted the UB's priorities as "the consolidation of the health axis on the Avinguda Diagonal, the achievement of a more flexible organization and more effective governance, and a firm commitment to innovation and transfer".
During the event, the rector also referred to the new legislative changes that universities must face, such as the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) and the Ley de la Ciencia, which he said we have to "decipher in positive terms in order to grow". He also 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".
Afterwards, Guàrdia highlighted two priority elements: the digitalization of the University, the deployment of which must continue with the UniDigital projects, and the students as the centrepiece of the actions, that will become "the protagonist of their journey within the University".
Finally, the Rector stressed that “the Catalan university and research system is a shared and collaborative coordination project”. He said: [In] a world in which barbarity is present every day, as we see in Ukraine and Israel, the UB must keep the light permanently on to build a fairer and more balanced reality". "Light, science and rigour: this is the path", he concluded.
The Government’s support
In his speech, the Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, Joaquim Nadal, stressed that "now is the time for university policy". “All the universities in Catalonia face an inevitable challenge for the future, which we must face together — he said —, and which must be based on transparency, on the will to build a future based on credibility. "We must be able to take a leap forward regarding the inertia that is holding us back". He also stressed that bureaucracy and administration should not be obstacles for the institutions to "work together and move in the right direction".
The president of the UB's Board of Trustees, Joan Corominas, wished the rector luck and success, and highlighted the UB's priorities as "the consolidation of the health axis on the Avinguda Diagonal, the achievement of a more flexible organization and more effective governance, and a firm commitment to innovation and transfer".
The new governing team takes office
After the Rector, the new governing team has taken office. It is comprised by the following positions:
- Marina Solé Català, secretary-general
- Glòria Matalí Costa, manager
- Ernest Abadal Falgueras, vice-rector assistant to the Rector and for Teaching and Research Staff
- Agustí Alcoberro Pericay, vice-rector for Culture, Memory and Heritage
- Maria Concepció Amat Miralles, vice-rector for Teaching Policy
- Víctor Manuel Climent Sanjuán, vice-rector for Labour Relations
- Maria Pilar Delgado Hito, vice-rector for Academic Policy
- Mario Domínguez Amorós, vice-rector de Lifelong and Professional Training
- Maria Feliu Torruella, vice-rector for Doctorate, Research Staff in Training and Talent Recruitment
- 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 secretary general
- Montserrat Puig Llobet, vice-rector for Equal Opportunities, Inclusion and Gender
- Raúl Ramos Lobo, vice-rector for Internationalization Policy
- Maria Teresa Sauras Yera, vice-rector for Sustainability and Climate Action
- Mercè Segarra Rubí, vice-rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer
- Xavier Maria Triadó Ivern, vice-rector for Digitization Policy
- Miquel Joan Vidal Espinar, vice-rector for Quality Policy
In the afternoon, the delegates and deputies of the government team will take office.
Guàrdia won the elections on 4 and 5 December with 65.89% of the weighted vote. The event, presented by journalist Carla Turró, could be followed on UBtv.
Multimedia gallery
Joan Guàrdia begins his second term as head of the UB
The Rector, with the governing team.
Photo of Rector Guàrdia with the former rectors.
Flickr
Acte de presa de possessió de Joan Guàrdia com a rector de la UB i del seu equip rectoral
Joan Guàrdia ha iniciat avui el seu segon mandat com a rector de la Universitat de Barcelona, institució que encapçalarà durant sis anys més.