In his acceptance speech, Professor Dídac Ramírez praised the work and the legacy of the outgoing Rector’s team and recalled the fact that «the university plays a major role in our society and in the world. The university is, by definition, a place for thought and for commitment. This institution should encourage progress in the human and experimental sciences and should not surrender to a model driven purely by economic considerations. Science and the search for truth underpin the research carried out at universities; the university is where knowledge in its pure form is created, and where the applications of this knowledge to science and technology are prepared».

 “Today”, Professor Ramírez continued “society is looking to the university to provide solutions to important problems. The government must be convinced of the role the university plays in society». In addition to calling for a funding model that includes all reasonable demands, Professor Ramírez also insisted that “the university is a forum where ideas and proposals can be shared and can guide the transformation that the institution needs in order to build a better society”. As he began his term of office, Professor Ramírez called on all those present to apply a critical approach to the development of the university in an atmosphere of trust and dialogue. Referring to the present conflict with a section of the student body, he recalled that the university’s approach to solving problems is through dialogue; he confirmed that his first act as Rector would be to call a meeting with the students’ representatives.

The outgoing Rector Professor Josep Samitier thanked the university community and the institutions for their support, in his capacity both as Acting Rector and former Vice-rector. Addressing a question to all those involved in public universities, Professor Samitier asked why the society at large had so little awareness of the significance of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). With reference to the more critical sectors, specifically to the group presently occupying the university campuses, Professor Samitier wondered why dialogue had not been possible, in spite of the opportunities put forward to protesters. Finally, Professor Samitier asked why university disputes always make the headlines whereas important actions taken by universities are not received with the same interest.   

The next speaker, Josep Huguet. Minister of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, thanked the outgoing Rector for his dedication and congratulated the new Rector on his appointment. Mr Huguet expressed his commitment to working for a public university of excellence, and stressed that “the EHEA is an irreversible opportunity”. He asked for patience and perseverance, because “Europe and progress await us”. He also stressed that “the global recession has accelerated the process of a multipolar world with emerging countries, and Europe must work hard if it is to maintain its position once the recession is over. We are witnessing the end of a cycle and our joint responsibility is great. The future of the Catalan public university system is at stake ...”.

Following Rector Ramírez, the rest of the new governing team took office at 12 pm:

Dr. Joan Elias García, Vice-rector for the Teaching Staff and Deputy Rector
Dr. Gemma Fonrodona Baldajos, Vice-rector for Students and Linguistic Policy
Dr. Amelia Díaz Álvarez, Vice-rector for Teaching and European Convergence
Dr. Jordi Alberch Vie, Vice-rector for Research
Dr. M. Teresa Anguera Argilaga, Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy
Dr. Àlex Aguilar Vila, Vice-rector for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer
Dr. Carles Carreras Verdaguer, Vice-rector for International and Institutional Relations
Dr. Lourdes Cirlot Valenzuela, Vice-rector for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Dr. Pere Quetglas Nicolau, Vice-rector for Information and Communication
Dr. Jordi Garcia Viña, Secretary General

Dr. Gonzalo Bernardos Domínguez, Commissioner for Economic Resources
Dr. Misericòrdia García Hernández, Commissioner for Society and Ageing
Dr. César Picado Valles, Commissioner for Hospital Coordination
Dr. Josep A. Plana Castellví, Commissioner for Foundations and ICTs
Dr. Manuel Viladevall Solé, Commissioner for Sustainability

The new Rector of the UB, Professor Dídac Ramírez Sarrió (Barcelona, 1946) obtained 53.45% of the weighted votes in the second round of voting, reaching the majority needed to be elected Rector. Professor Ramírez holds a degree in Philosophy and Education Sciences from the University of Barcelona, and Ph.D. degrees in Economics and Business and Philosophy and Education Sciences from the same university. He has been a full professor at the UB since 1990. He was Vice-dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences from 1984 to 1989, and Vice-rector of Economics and Administration from 1990 to 1994. He was chair of the Catalan Society of Philosophy, a branch of the Institute of Catalan Studies, from 2001 to 2006, and treasurer of Barcelona Football Club in 2003. He is the director of the Department of Mathematics for Economics, Finance and Actuarial Sciences at the UB, and has been a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences since 2002. He is also head of the UB research group ‘Research in Finance and Uncertainty Analysis’ and a member of the Teaching Innovation Group ‘New Methodologies for Teaching and Learning Financial and Actuarial Mathematics’.