"This academic year we would like to take some relevant steps, in partnership with the Navarra Hospital Complex and the Public University, to make Navarra one of the most advanced European regions in biomedical research ". This was stated today by the President of the University of Navarra, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, during the 2016-2017 academic official opening of the academic year .

He also referred to some new developments in the offer professor and research, among which are the launching of three new Degrees -Marketing, design and Energy Engineering-, the Master's Degree of research in Social Sciences, and the creation of a registry of the groups of research and the thematic map, which will allow greater visibility of this effort aimed at producing high quality science.

Regarding the milestones of the past academic year, the President referred to the more than 4,000 applications for Admissions Office, which represented an 8% growth; the first year of the Museum's existence, with more than 80,000 visitors; the best position ever in the QS ranking, where it was ranked 245th; first place for IESE in the Executive Education ranking prepared each year by the Financial Times; and the appointment of the Clinic as the first IESE Business School of the Year.The best position ever in the QS ranking, where it was ranked 245th; the first place for IESE in the Executive Education ranking prepared each year by the Financial Times; and the appointment of the Clínica, for the second consecutive year, as the private hospital with the best reputation in Spain according to MERCO (Monitor Empresarial de Reputación Corporativa, or Corporate Reputation Business Monitor).

He also mentioned the launch of Degree for International Relations; the defense of 271 thesis doctoral theses, the highest number in the history of the University; the inauguration of the new headquarters of Institute for Culture and Society; the start of construction of the last phase of the Clinic in Madrid, which is scheduled to open at the end of next year; the launch of the Entrepreneurship Officewith a public-private capital fund of 9 million euros; and the establishment of the Institute of Core CurriculumInstitute, in charge of teaching humanistic subjects.

"These advances -according to Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero- are part of the Horizon 2020 Plan, which we presented last year, and which are specified in 10 major strategic projects that we want to promote in the coming years. These are, without a doubt, ambitious objectives, which require courage and tenacity".

partnership between public and private

However, the President stated that, along with the good news of the past academic year, there was no shortage of bad times. "The storm of the past academic year came with the decision of the Government of Navarra not to renew the agreement of family medicine by which employees, family members and retirees who wished to receive their attendance health care at the Clinic." He then referred to the subsequent signature of the agreement of transplants and patient referrals to the Clinic; as well as the public funding for the Chairs of Navarre Heritage and Art and language and Basque Culture. "We are convinced that this is the right path, the most useful for everyone and the one we are going to walk along in the coming months," stressed the President.

"Most citizens," he continued, "want those of us at the head of the institutions to reach agreements, to focus more on what unites us than on what separates us. "In our case," stressed Alfonso Sánchez Tabernero, " we try to ensure that each of the University's campus is integrated into its environment, be it Navarre, the Basque Autonomous Community, Catalonia or Madrid. In all these places - and particularly in Navarra, where eighty percent of our activity and employees are concentrated - the University feels committed to the society in which it lives and which it wishes to serve."

In this regard, he cited the report impact study carried out by Deloittewhich was presented last Tuesday, and where there are "data eloquent about the contribution of the University to the economic, social and cultural development of Navarra".

Finally, the President assured that in the most developed countries, with higher levels of justice and quality of life, there is an intense partnership between public and private institutions. "That is why our University is always oriented to partnership with other public and private institutions, because together we will be able to provide a better service to citizens."

Authorities present at the ceremony

The opening ceremony began with a Eucharistic concelebration presided over by the Archbishop of Pamplona and Bishop of Tudela, Francisco Pérez. After the academic parade composed of more than 230 doctors, the ceremony began with the intervention of University Secretary, Gonzalo Robles, who summarized the data of research, attendance and teaching most outstanding of the Academic report of the academic year 2015-2016. Afterwards, Prof. Josep Tàpies, head of the Chair of business familiar of IESE, gave the inaugural lecture entitled "business familiar: topics and realities". position The musical part was provided by the University of Navarra Choir, directed by Ekhi Ocaña.

Among the authorities who attended the event were the president of the Government of Navarra, Uxue Barkos; the first vice-president of the Parliament of Navarra, Unai Hualde; the government delegate, Carmen Alba; the mayor of Pamplona, Joseba Asiron; the president of the High Court of Justice of Navarra, Joaquín Galve; the counselor of Education, José Luis Mendoza; the military commander general in Navarra, Álvaro Michael Sacristán; and the prosecutor of the High Court of Justice of Navarra, José Antonio Sánchez Sánchez-Villares.

Also in attendance, among other guests, were the second vice-president of the Parliament, Alberto Catalán; the vice-president of development Economic of the Government of Navarra, Manuel Ayerdi; the general secretary of the PSN, María Victoria Chivite; the ombudsman of Navarra, Javier Enériz; the president of the Chamber of Comptos, Asunción Olaechea; and the Vice President of the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Eloisa Ramírez.

 

• Inaugural lecture: "business family: topics and realities".

• Special report