25 September 2006
Others
The General Secretary opened this formal ceremony with the reading of the annual report for the academic year 2005-2006. Then, tribute was paid to the lecturers and collaborators at this University who retired last year. Afterwards, in her Opening Lecture, the lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Ana Toledo, examined the past and present of Basque language, in an attempt to glimpse its future.
The Opening Lecture was followed by a few words by the Rector of the University of Deusto, Jaime Oraá, who recalled that on that day, 120 years ago, the first lecture was taught at the University in Bilbao; and that this year, the San Sebastian campus celebrates its 50th anniversary, that is, the anniversary of the first university centre in Guipuzcoa and its historical territory behind the old University of Oñate.
Then, he explained that this academic year means the culmination of the strategic plan for 2004-2005, and that strategic relection will be resumed in order to survey the needs regarding learning, research and transfer of knowledge currently required by our country. Therefore, the next strategic plan for 2007-2010 will be prepared on this basis, which will lead Deusto towards the year 2010 when, according to the European Commission?s forecasts, all degrees will have been adapted to the Bologna process.
In his closing remarks, Rector Oraá stressed his enthusiasm to promote quality research aimed at reaching convergence with Europe. Although Deusto has always been recognised for its teaching ?in the last 25 years there have been 51,603 graduates- the University is also aware of the importance of fostering research; he is totally convinced that research and university teaching are the main platform to boost the change required in Basque society. To reach this aim, the contribution of the three universities in our system and its researchers will be essential.
This ceremony came to a close with the remarks made by the President of the Basque Government, who officially opened this academic year.
