"The university of the future will also be the university of always."
Ana María Fernández Vallejo, professor at ISSA-School of Applied Management, reflected on the role of the Humanities in the XI Lecture The Aims of Education.
20 | 10 | 2025
The Core Curriculum Institute of the University of Navarra held the 11th edition of the Lecture The Ends of Education, with the discussion paper "The Age of AI: the resurgence of the Humanities". Delivered by Professor Ana María Fernández Vallejo, from ISSA School of Applied Management, the lecture addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the need to maintain a person-centered university training . "The university of the future will also be the university of always: a place for reflection, discussion and the search for the meaning of the human being".
Professor Fernández Vallejo highlighted the value of critical thinking and the essential role of the Humanities in the digital era. "The Humanities will re-emerge out of pure existential necessity, because man needs spirituality and meaning". She also spoke about other issues such as the manipulation of language in the digital era, the impact of artificial intelligence on Education and the need to educate in an "ethical and critical literacy" in the face of new technologies.
Ana María Fernández Vallejo during her speech at the XI Lecture The Aims of Education.
First edition of the Cardinal John H. Newman award
At the end of the discussion paper, the submission the Cardinal John H. Newmanaward for the best humanistic essay written by students within the ICC Great Books program took place. The award, which was celebrating its first edition, seeks to recognize the students who best reflect, through their writing, a staff perspective committed to the humanistic values that underpin theeducational project of the University of Navarra.
The first award went to José María Maldonado, 4th year student of the Degree in Economics and Law, for his work De la crisis a la acción: Cicerón y John F. Kennedy, who could not attend the submission and in his place, Miguel de Arberas, his colleague, received the award. Clementina Gil, a 3rd year Biochemistry student ( Biochemistry & Business Program), received the second prize for her essay El amor: una búsqueda de identidad y plenitud (Love: a search for identity and fulfillment).
Clementina Gil Riquezes recoge el accésit del Premio Cardenal John H. Newman
La entrega de los galardones corrió a cargo del profesor Rafael García Pérez, subdirector del ICC, quien recordó la figura del cardenal Newman y su próxima proclamación como Doctor de la Iglesia.
The Aims of Education Lesson is a workshop held every year with the goal of promote reflection on the mission statement of the university and the current challenges of higher Education .
Los premiados junto a Antonino González, Rafael Pérez García y Ana M.ª Fernández Vallejo
