UVic-UCC calls for greater recognition of its unique status in the new university law and more public funds

The University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) inaugurated the 2024-2025 academic year this morning with an event held in the auditorium of the University's Manresa Campus. The inauguration of the academic year was presided over by Laura Román, general secretary of the Inter-University Council of Catalonia (ICC); Marc Aloy, president of the Bages University Foundation and mayor of Manresa; Albert Castells, president of the Balmes University Foundation and mayor of Vic; Josep Eladi Baños, rector of UVic-UCC, and Anna Sabata, the University's general secretary.  

During the ceremony, Laura Román highlighted "the importance of UVic-UCC within the Catalan university system." She said that "reinforcing the University and research in Catalonia's central regions means strengthening the territory" and "UVic-UCC is a key element due to its role within the Catalan university system, its ability to innovate and adapt, the unique nature of its governance model, and its commitment to strategic areas of teaching and research, such as health and education." 

At the end of her speech, the general secretary of the ICC emphasised "UVic-UCC's efforts to work with Catalonia's other universities and with universities from all over the world to enhance standards of competitiveness." Román also discussed UVic-UCC's work in projects related to social impact and gender equality.

Institutional speeches

During his speech, Albert Castells said that "it is inarguable that an increasing number of students are choosing to come to UVic-UCC. They choose our university as their first option for their higher education, and they do so despite the extra costs involved," which "they recoup in the form of high quality teaching, personalised care, and modern facilities and up-to-date equipment." In this context, Castells highlighted "the key role played by UVic-UCC in our country's territorial balance," and claimed that "now is the time to recognise and consolidate this unique status on the map of the Catalan university system, by receiving specific recognition in the future Catalan university law."  

Marc Aloy said that the excellent figures recorded by UVic-UCC showed that "we are achieving the mission for which we were established." He pointed out that ten years after the creation of the federation, "together, within the framework of the UVic-UCC, we do a great service to the territory - a service that warrants recognition from our country's authorities as well as public financial resources. We need to continue improving the funding for the university."   

In his speech opening the academic year, the rector reviewed the registration figures, and emphasised the upward trend of recent years. He then made some general comments, beginning with the quality of teaching and the personal care offered to students at UVic-UCC, "because there is no doubt that the use of tutoring and mentoring programmes can contribute to their academic success."  

Josep Eladi Baños also discussed lifelong learning "as an important part of UVic-UCC's work", the University's governance model and the tenth anniversary of the federation agreement between the Balmes University Foundation and the Bages University Foundation - "a milestone that changed the two institutions' destiny, and which was the first step towards those of us here today being able to talk about the consolidation of UVic-UCC." Referring to the institution's governance, he stressed that in the future "the four cornerstones must maintain their autonomy, while contributing to the growth of the UVic-UCC as an instrument that sustains them and raises their profile externally." 

Dr Carles Escalona Marfil, a lecturer on the bachelor's degree course in Podiatry at UManresa and a researcher in the Sport, Exercise and Human Movement (SEaHM) research group at UVic-UCC, delivered the inaugural lecture, with the title of "Què ens diuen els peus? Relacions entre els peus i el funcionament del cos basades en l’evidència" ["What do our feet tell us? Evidence-based relationships between feet and the workings of the body.] In his lecture, Escalona focused on the relationship between the feet and the morphofunctional aspects of the human body that science has discovered. He answered various questions that researchers have raised in the past, such as whether the shape of a person's feet determines the way they walk or run, and whether flat feet are related to an increased risk of injury.

In his capacity as a researcher, Escalona referred to the Early Detection Programme at the Bages University Foundation University Clinic (CU), which is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its founding this year, and which has clinically examined more than 3,200 children in order to identify possible issues with their feet. He also talked about a research project in which he was involved, which focused on the feet of children with overpronation and obesity, who "have wider feet and higher insteps", he said. 

In the final part of the inaugural lecture, the lecturer discussed other research lines he is working on: the relationship between feet and motor skills, the link between pulmonary ventilatory parameters and the feet, and how foot types influence the height that people are able to jump. 

Presentation of the UVic-UCC medal and insignia

During the opening ceremony of the academic year, the rector Josep Eladi Baños presented the UVic-UCC Institutional Medal to Valentí Martínez Espinosa, who was general manager of the Bages University Foundation for twenty-three years, and is currently the director of International Strategy for Latin America and academic director of the Chair in Leadership in Values.  

Before presenting the award, Anna Sabata explained that it was being conferred on Martínez as a result of his contribution to "the creation of the federal agreement that gave rise to UVic-UCC," and for "his marvellous capacity for work, his spirit of consensus and his tenacity in the pursuit of objectives" when making possible initiatives including the Faculty of Medicine, the Institute for Research and Innovation in Life and Health Sciences of Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), and the Chair he directs.  

Valentí Martínez expressed his gratitude for the recognition, and extended his thanks to the Bages University Foundation and the people who have worked with him since he joined the institution more than two decades ago. He highlighted the identity that the Manresa campus has been establishing in terms of "being a benchmark for the region, as well as nationally and internationally; specialising in Health Sciences, Education and Business; and sustainable in both financial and academic terms." Martínez expressed his pleasure at receiving this medal in the year of its tenth anniversary - "a successful initiative that has succeeded in creating a feeling of belonging to a shared project." 

The insignia were presented to the following people who retired from the University last year: Jonathan Telford, Josep Mellado Navas, Josep M. Font Vergés, Montse Rosell Casas, Dolors Vinyet Benito, M. Teresa Calzada Balcells, Montserrat Font Garcia and Marta Mosella Regí. 

Finally, the special award and special prizes for bachelor's degrees and the best academic records were presented. The video reportage of the 2023-2024 academic year at the UVic-UCC was also screened during the ceremony, and the printed report covering the last academic year was distributed to all those attending. This year's musical performance was by the pianist and composer David Martell, who played three pieces from the Dedicatòries collection on the piano. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the university's anthem Gaudeamus Igitur and finally, those attending received a copy of the poster of the inauguration of the 2024-2025 academic year, created by Jordi Lafon.