The Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra has set up the Centro Humanismo Cívico for programs of study on the character and ethics of the professions. It is directed by Full Professor José María Torralba and is financially supported by the Fundación Ciudadanía y Valores. The team researcher is completed by Emma Cohen de Lara and Vianney Domingo, who join the ICS.

This new initiative will carry out research and knowledge transfer projects on the humanistic Education and its contributions to society, especially with regard to development character and professional ethics. Its three lines of work are: 'Models of humanistic Education ', 'University mentoring and development of character' and 'Professionalism and ethical leadership'.

"The programs of study on professionalism have shown that adequate preparation for the exercise of a profession cannot be limited to technical qualifications, but must include the cultivation of intellectual and ethical habits," says José María Torralba. As an example, quotation the relevance of rigor, honesty, empathy and a service attitude.

Positive contributions to society in Spain, Europe and Latin America

The Full Professor is committed to seeking scientific evidence "about the consequences for people and societies of the different forms of university Education " and, consequently, promote the best ones. In this sense, he states that one of the specific objectives of the new center is the dissemination of the results obtained in the field of civil society: intellectuals, politicians and business leaders.

Professor Torralba emphasizes that "society would improve if universities were also concerned with intellectual culture, offering a transversal humanistic training ", as well as with ethical preparation, "both with regard to the exercise of the profession and to growth staff, through the development of character".

In this sense, he mentions that the Centro Humanismo Cívico aspires to "contribute positively to society through the improvement of the university Education " both in Spain and, mainly, in Europe and Latin America. "We intend to become a recognized interlocutor both in the world of research and in public decision-making forums," he says. 

The Center intends to create synergies with groups of research already established at the University of Navarra, which have been working for some time in these fields, as well as to establish or participate in international networks of partnership.