Interview with Quim Salvi, President, Associació Catalana d’Universitats Públiques (ACUP), Rector, University of Girona (UdG)

11 Jan Interview with Quim Salvi, President, Associació Catalana d’Universitats Públiques (ACUP), Rector, University of Girona (UdG)

What is the government doing to strengthen the Catalonian university system?

The Catalan university system is powerful. Its universities rank among the top 300 in the world and all eight public universities are among the top 1,000 in the world. It is a great achievement for our country. Some universities have larger traditions and histories. Catalonia has a population of 9 million, with Barcelona serving as a hub. The city accounts for more than half of Catalonia’s population. However, this dynamic is changing, albeit at varying levels. For example, Girona represents 10% of Catalonia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and population. Investing in universities is highly profitable. For every euro invested in universities, four euros are returned in terms of wealth for the region. We also have a high level of coordination between universities. We have the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia, where we discuss major topics alongside the government. We also have the Associació Catalana d’Universitats Públiques (ACUP), which serves as an instrument to defend the interests of public universities before the Catalan government. We coordinate to bring proposals to the government and meet with them once a month to debate.

Spain recently approved a Spanish university system law that mandates the government allocate 1% of its GDP to higher education. In Catalonia, we currently allocate 0.5% of the GDP to higher education, depending on how it is calculated. The law will require us to double our current investment by 2030, which will amount to around $2.94 billion. Five years is a monumental challenge. We also have a Catalan law for universities and science that has developed aspects that are only hinted at in Spanish law but are not fully addressed. This has made Catalonia a model region regarding knowledge; we have implemented policies beyond those of other Spanish regions. The Catalan science law has allowed us to create significant policies for talent acquisition. For example, we have the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, a public instrument funded by the Catalan government for attracting talent. We also have a network of research centers that has enabled us to boost research in the country. However, a reform of the university law represents a major opportunity. We must make a qualitative leap by developing a stronger Catalan university law for greater prominence in Europe.

What initiatives are ACUP and its member universities implementing to collaborate with industry?

As universities, we have the tools to work jointly with companies. The ACUP has a knowledge and technology platform that brings together companies. Catalan business associations and universities meet once a year to brainstorm and explore potential collaborations. In recent years, this has focused on lifelong learning programs, creating regions of innovation and artificial intelligence. In Catalonia, we have a program for industrial doctorates. While doctorates are typically scientific and theoretical, they can be done within a company in collaboration with a university in Catalonia. This initiative has been highly successful and allows companies to conduct research and development activities alongside universities. All universities have knowledge transfer policies; we have specialists and staff who facilitate the transfer of knowledge to companies. Universities in Catalonia actively create businesses alongside entrepreneurs to transfer knowledge to the socioeconomic sphere.

What actions has ACUP taken to promote international exchange?

We are present at international fairs and events as a public university system. We have a network of contacts with international universities, primarily in Europe but also in the Americas and the rest of the world. ACUP universities are part of European alliances such as the Erasmus program and European Universities initiative, which allows us to create joint degrees with other universities in Europe. Seven out of the eight public universities in Catalonia are part of these alliances, of which there are only 60 in Europe. We are working to have Barcelona officially recognized as the world capital of higher education. In 2022, we hosted the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in Barcelona, and we aim to host this conference again. Catalonia is strongly positioned in this regard.

How does the University of Girona (UdG) stand out as a global learning center?

UdG is a leader in applying the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and is ranked among the top 200 universities globally for its implementation. The university has implemented a renowned sustainable adoption plan and is highly ranked in sustainability applications. It is also the second Catalan university in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, which evaluates universities’ sustainable development. Our areas of expertise include underwater robotics; Girona has the world’s best underwater development center and is a reference for the global field of potable water research. Girona has also coordinated tourism schools across Catalonia in reference to the sector’s importance to the Catalan GDP. We host the Higher Institute of Tourism of Catalonia. Moreover, Girona excels in composite materials, agrifoods and gastronomy. We boast the highest density of Michelin stars thanks to a strong culinary tradition and conduct significant research in gastronomy. Girona is also recognized for its contributions to Industry 4.0 applications. Centers of excellence in knowledge in Catalonia are not exclusive to Barcelona. They are distributed throughout the region, which provides numerous opportunities.

How would you assess the level of support given to entrepreneurs and startups at UdG?

The University of Girona has a foundation called the Girona, Region of Knowledge Foundation. Its board of trustees includes the provincial council, the city council and the chamber of commerce which represents all companies in the region. This foundation fosters collaboration between the university, public institutions, local governments and businesses. It focuses on ten sectors such as water, robotics and industry. Each field has assigned research groups and involves small and medium-sized enterprises in these areas. The foundation organizes conferences and seminars and provides a web platform where companies can post challenges that are then collaboratively addressed with researchers and students. There is always room for improvement. The university supports students who wish to create startups by providing training and guidance often in collaboration with industry. The region’s knowledge model functions well in Girona and is intended to be exported to the rest of Catalonia. It aligns with the approach of countries in Northern Europe.

How does Catalonia position itself in attracting international students?

We still have a long way to go. The tools we currently have for attracting international students lag behind some European countries that are performing better. In doctoral programs, over 50% of our students are international. However, our undergraduate programs have an internationalization percentage of less than 10% and our master’s programs sit at an internationalization rate of around 30%. The proportion of international students overall is about 14%. To increase our international appeal, we need to make significant efforts. Talent is distributed globally, and young talent is the most valuable. While some of this talent remains in the region, a portion moves to other areas. In a globalized world, policies must also be global. There is still much to do. Although we are doing well in attracting international doctoral students, we have a lot of ground to cover in our undergraduate programs.

What major hurdles do Catalonia’s universities face in meeting their long-term potential?

Universities in Catalonia have not recovered the required level of funding since the economic crisis in 2008 to 2010. There have been frequent changes to the Catalan government in recent years, and the lack of budgetary stability has meant that universities do not have the resources we need. We are still far from achieving funding equal to 1% of our GDP. The shortfall is evident in our faculty staffing and digitalization. We are currently lagging in advancing digitization at our universities. We lack the financial resources to progress at the pace we should and many technologies we currently cannot implement. Our major challenge is to achieve stability in the Catalan government, secure a proper budget and work towards advancing funding to recover lost ground.

The overall challenges facing the Catalan university system include the creation of a general and ambitious university law and extending lifelong learning as a regulated and official public offering. Continuous retraining is essential; 50% of active workers in Europe must participate in postgraduate activities once every three years to update their knowledge. Universities are currently focused on educating young people but not on providing lifelong learning opportunities for those already in the workforce. Industries require constant innovation that must align with their internal strategies and efforts to attract young talent. A third major challenge is to develop regions of knowledge. A system of close collaboration between universities and industries must be expanded to other regions. While regions compete with others, real opportunities lie in collaboration. The European alliances within ACUP provide a platform for cooperation and the multiplication of efforts that open doors to growth and innovation. Catalonia is a crossroads of cultures; it is where the world’s first parliament was established and has remained a land of opportunities.