Archive for year: 2011

The rectors of A-4U universities (Ana Ripoll from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Jose M. Sanz from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Daniel Peña from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and Josep Joan Moreso from Universitat Pompeu Fabra) took part in the debate on the future of the universities in Spain, an event moderated by journalist Iñaki Gabilondo.

The debate was structured in four blocks where each rector presented their view of the projects and challenges facing universities in the future in terms of teaching, research and internationalisation. According to Iñaki Gabilondo, “these four universities are all recognised for being a Campus of International Excellence and are strongly commited to research and a clear European and international focus”.

Ana Ripoll, President of A-4U, spoke of the alliance, which was founded in 2008, as “a platform, which improves the international profile fo each university and of the alliance per se, with consolidated projects and future objectives borne from an entrepreneurial and innovative academic and scientific environment”. According to Ana Ripoll, now the society “demans more from universities, but since each university is different, each should work on their strengths and, in this sense, A-4U knows where it wants to go”.

Jose M. Sanz focused on research, “If we add up publication impact and funding for European projects, our four universities are on a similar level with the best universities in Europe. Our research is competitive and this has led to the creation of science parks with the aim of offering collaboration areas, which can offer local, national and international benefits”.

Daniel Peña, who spoke on academic issues, stated that “knowledge is the key to sicual development and the most important value a country can possess. In Spain, this value is for the most part generated at uinversities”. Daniel Peña added, however, that A-4U must not be complacent: “we have the inescapable obligation of meeting the challenges of a reconversion process in order to keep up with the pace of global developments”.

In the field of internationalisation, Josep Joan Moreso stressed the fact that “if the four universities represented here today intend to make substantial progress, we must open our doors to the best professors in the world. Our teaching staff must include academics from abroad and there must be an increase in the number of international students in our postgraduate programmes”. He went on to defend the need to have “at least half of our students spend one semester at a university abroad”.

The debate is part of the series of round tables, organised under the auspices of A-4U and funded by CaixaForum. The second round table will take place on March 5, 2012 and will see the four rectors continue to discuss the future of the universities in Spain.

A delegation of Alianza 4 Universidades (formed by Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona – UAB, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid – UAM, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid – UC3M, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra – UPF) travelled to Russia on an institutional visit from 10 to 16 October. During the visit members met to sign collaboration agreements in teaching and research with some of the most prestigious universities of Russia.

The collaboration agreements will go towards the promotion of international mobility between lecturers, researchers, and undergraduate and postgraduate students. Tha main objective of A-4U is to make its postgraduate programmes attractive to top students from one of the most important countries in the internationalisation project of Alianza 4 Universidades, which is strongly focused on the emerging power countries known as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Among non-EU member countries, Russia is the one that participates most in projects offered under the EU Seventh Framework Agreement (FP7).

During its visit A-4U signed collaboration agreements with four universities: Moscow Bauman State Technical University, Moscow State Law Academy, Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University, and North-West Academy of Public Management.

In addition, A-4U established contact with other universities interested in future collaboration projects: Moscow Lomonosov State University, Russian State University for the Humanities, Higher School of Economics, New School of Economics, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, and Saint Petersburg Academic University – Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre.

The majority of these universities have obtained recognition as a “National Research University” by the Russian government, a status equivalent to recognition as Campus of International Excellence in Spain.

The trip to Russia taken by A-4U delegates forms part of a series of international visits and are co-funded by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX).

Aiming to promote training of executives and good relations between Spain and Asia, Casa Asia and the Fundation “la Caixa” offer 10 scholarships for studying an MBA in India and China.

Of the ten scholarships, six will be for studying an MBA in China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, two – for studying an MBA in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School, and the remaining two – for studying a postgraduate programme in Management (PGP) in Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad.

The scholarships will start in 2012 and will cover the period of study from one year to twenty months. Applications are admitted until September 5, 2011.

The following expenses are covered by the scholarship: return flight, tuition fees, a bursary of 910 Euros per month in Shanghai and Hydebarad and a bursary of 1.400 Euros per month in Hong Kong, a one-off payment of 1.050 Euros for arrival, books etc., student visa, and a medical insurance. In the case of CEIBS, the scholarship will also include the costs of a 1.000 Euros language course in Mandarin in Shanghai.

For more information: Scholarships to study an MBA in Asia

A delegation of Alliance of 4 Universities (A-4U) will be visiting Brazil on an institutional trip from 26 March to 2 April to set up new relations with several of the country’s universities and institutions.

The objective of the trip is to establish new contacts with top universities and governmental organisations in Brazil to foster joint collaborations and new academic postgraduate programmes. With this trip A-4U will also enter into contact with industries in Brazil.

The trip will include visits to twelve of the top universities in the country and five governmental organisations in Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Campinas, São Paolo, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis.

The delegation is formed by Vice-Rectors of International Relations of each of the member universities (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Autonomous University of Madrid, Universidad Carlos III and Pompeu Fabra University) and the International Relations Coordinator of A-4U. The visit is co-financed by the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX).

Brazil is one of the key countries included in the international projection process of A-4U given its importance as an emerging area of higher education. A-4U is committed to extending its relations with the four BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China

Related item:SENAI visit.