07 September 2007
Others
The rest of Vice-Rectors who make up the team are not new appointments and they also renew their posts. These include the Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Staff, José Luis Avila; the Vice-Rector for Innovation and Quality, Aurelio Villa Sánchez; the Vice-Rector for the San Sebastian campus, José M Guibert Ucin; the Vice-Rector for the Business Studies Area, Ramón O'Callaghan Duch; and the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Julia González Ferreras. The following Deans have also renewed their posts: the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, José Javier Pardo Izar, and the Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology, María Silvestre Cabrera. Similarly, during this ceremony the new General Secretary, M Begoña Arrieta Heras also took up her new post.
The Rector encouraged them all to be corporate leaders in their fields and faculties, making up efficient and innovative teams, and promoting recognition of work well done. In his speech, Jaime Oraá spoke about the challenges that the University of Deusto will undertake this academic year, one of which will be the drawing up of a new Strategic Plan. This is expected to become an increasingly effective tool to achieve the academic excellencethat characterisesa Jesuit university. Another great challenge faced by this centenarian institution is that of devising a new plan of UD degrees for the European Higher Education Area, once the Reform carried out by the Ministry has defined specific guidelines for undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The work carried out by the degree commission during the last few years will have to be speeded up in the next few months, so that the University may present a wide range of attractive and updated degrees to meet the current demands of society and the labour market, and that are in keeping with Deusto Project. As the Rector pointed out, this is an essential issue that will be dealt with during the next few months, and where the University has much at stake.
In this context, Jaime Oraá believes that Deusto must explore in greater depth how to significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning based on the development of the competences, attitudes and values contained within the UD Project. As he explained, the University has gone a long way as far as pedagogical innovation is concerned during the last few years. The new plan of subjects for all degrees in accordance with the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) European System for the first time has been a good step. However, there is still a long way to go in this process, which far from being a mere formal change, he thinks that 'it has to help us in an effective way to renew teaching methods towards a model based on autonomous and significant learning. As we know, this model is based on St. Ignatius' teaching methods, a hallmark of identity, and one of the most important elements of the strategic plan.'
The Rector also spoke about the need to continue to implement the quality management model in the different centres, functional areas and new ancillary services; as well as the promotion of research as another main aim of the University of Deusto. According to Jaime Oraá, considerable progress has been made during the last few years and, in this regard, we have to continue the process of selection and prioritisation by centres of the main and strategic research lines related to graduate studies and the third cycle, as well as the main lines in accordance with the specific values of the UD. In this respect, he added that solid and stable research lines will continue to be promoted as well as the increasing participation of a higher number of our research teams in national and European programmes.
With regard to the recent creation of the Basque Agency for Innovation, the passing of the Science, Technology and Innovation Plan and the setting-up of Ikerbask Foundation as great platforms for the second transformation of the Basque Country,Rector Jaime Oraá pointed out that this means a great opportunity for all universities in general, and for Deusto in particular, and therefore, it should not be wasted.
Similarly, the Rector focused on another relevant area of work of the University of Deusto, whose aim is the strengthening of the relationship between the university and Society. Some of the challenges in this sphere include emphasis on the work with alumni and their associations, through the recently created Alumni Office and an increase in the UD activities for peace and reconciliation in our society.
The new Library and other future projects
Another important project at Deusto for the next few months is the completion of the building of the new library in Abandoibarra as a Resource Centre for Learning and research, and a key instrument for the implementation of Deusto Education Model. Once the first stage has been completed (the building of the five underground floors) and withthe second stagebeing already in progress (the building of the four floors containing reading rooms, seminar rooms, etc.). , the Rector expects that the new building will be completed next spring.This will be followed by the removal of about one million books during the summer months so that it can start operating during the new academic year 2008-2009. As he said, 'I am convinced that this is an important project for the future of Deusto, and it is something we should gradually be excited about as we see it completed, and we start seeing the great possibilities it offers for the new teaching-learning model and the new research we have to carry out.
