UB and two Amsterdamʼs universities strengthen their collaboration on research, internationalization and teaching
On 8 and 9 April, the University of Barcelona (UB) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA), together with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), held a bilateral meeting to strengthen their collaboration and set up initiatives focused on common interests. UB and UvA are members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of twenty-one leading research-intensive universities.
On 8 and 9 April, the University of Barcelona (UB) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA), together with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), held a bilateral meeting to strengthen their collaboration and set up initiatives focused on common interests. UB and UvA are members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of twenty-one leading research-intensive universities.
UvA and HvA visit to the University of Barcelona began on Tuesday 8 April when the vice-rector for International Policy, Maria Callejón, welcomed the delegation of both Amsterdamʼs institutions, headed by the rector of UvA, Dr Dymph van den Boom; the rector of HvA, Dr Huib de Jong, and the president of the Executive Board of UvA, Dr Louise Gunning-Schepers. Both Dutch universities work in close collaboration and share structures and common services.
The rector of the University of Barcelona, Dídac Ramírez, opened the working sessions which took place on 9 April. They were centred on four main aspects: cooperation, research and innovation, internationalization and education. All sessions emphasized that it is necessary to foster reforms and inter-university collaboration to increase international opportunities.
The University of Amsterdam shares some services and departments with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences; this experience was used as an example of best practice in inter-university cooperation. The session on cooperation was chaired by Dr Louise Gunning-Schepers and Dr Dídac Ramírez.
On the session centred on research, chaired by Dr Jordi Alberch, vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer of UB, both institutions explained their research policies. The Barcelona Science Park, the campuses of international excellence and the UB centre for research transfer —the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation— were described and discussed. Speakers were: Dr Karen Maex, dean of the Faculty of Science at UvA and of the Faculty of Life Sciences at HvA, Carme Verdaguer, director of FBG-UB, and Núria Casamitjana, technical director and academic coordinator at the Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), who analysed in deep the collaboration lines between UB and CRESIB.
The session on education examined questions such as the use of new technologies and studentsʼ future perspectives on their professional careers. The session was chaired by Dr Han van Dissel, dean of Economics and Bussiness at UvA, and Dr Pere Lluís Cabot, dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of UB, who presented student and teaching policies implemented by UB.
Finally, Dr Maria Callejón chaired the session on internationalization. Dr Dymph van den Boom exposed worldʼs demographic trends in higher education and some questions which affect internationalization at UvA. Dr Callejón described UBʼs international policy objectives, its most important projects and some possible collaboration lines between UB and UvA.
The speech pronounced by the Rector Dídac Ramírez and Dr Louise Gunning-Schepers closed the bilateral meeting. They stressed both institutionsʼ commitment to strength the collaboration established between UB and UvA-HvA.
Participants
The delegation of the University of Barcelona was composed by the rector, Dídac Ramírez; the vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer, Jordi Alberch; the vice-rector for International Policy, Maria Callejón; the vice-rector for Science Policy, Enric Canela; the vice-rector for Teaching Staff, Manel Viladevall; the vice-rector for Students and Language Policy, Gemma Fonrodona; the vice-rector for Academic Policy and Quality, Gaspar Roselló; the delegate for Special Research Actions, Conxita Àvila, and the general secretary, Isabel Miralles.
On 8 April, the deans of UBʼs faculties participated in a meeting with their Dutch counterparts. UB participants were: the dean of Medicine, Francesc Cardellach; the dean of Chemistry, Pere Lluís Cabot; the dean of Physics, Atilà Herms; the dean of Mathematics, M. Carme Cascante; the dean of Biology, Joaquim Gutiérrez; the dean of Geology, Lluís Cabrera; the dean of Geography and History, Xavier Roigé; the dean of Fine Arts, Salvador García; the dean of Philosophy, Norbert Bilbeny; the dean of Dentistry, Sílvia Sánchez; the dean of Economics and Business, Elisenda Paluzie; the vice-dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Diego Muñoz Torrero, the vice-dean of Economics and Business, Alfonso Herranz; the vice-dean of Philology, Javier Velaza; the vice-dean of Law, Mònica Navarro, and the vice-deans of Psychology, Imma Clemente and Joan Sansa.
The delegation of UvA and HvA was composed by the president and the vice-president of the Executive Board of both institutions, Louise Gunning-Schepers and Hans Amman; the rector of UvA, Dymph van den Boom; the rector of HvA, Huib de Jong, and the deans of Economics and Business, Han van Dissel; Dentistry, Albert Feilzer; Social and Behavioural Sciences, Edward de Hann; Medicine, Marcel Levi; Science, Karen Maex; Law, Edgar du Perron, and Humanities, Frank van Vree.