The role of the public university as an engine of transformation

Raul Garcia Hemonnet

The auditorium of the Rectorate building has witnessed, once again, the celebration of the Academic Ceremony commemorating Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of the University.

The rector, Javier Ramos, in what was his last 'Santo Tomás', shared a reflection with all the attendees in which, from a more personal point of view than on previous occasions, he defended the role of the public university as the main driving force of transformation in society.

In this regard, Ramos pointed out that "there is no promising future without a university with ambition and proper management."

The rector also wished to briefly review the achievements made during his two terms in office, in terms of job stability for PTGAS and PDI, improved internationalisation, highlighting the outstanding participation in the creation and development of the EULIST Alliance and in fundraising for research, “improving by 30% in the attainment of international funding”, he specified. He also highlighted the transformation of the URJC study plans, “incorporating long-term sustainability as a cross-cutting theme”.

Ramos also highlighted the “often invisible work of the PTGAS” and the role of students in social transformation, saying that they constitute “the best transmission belt to those who are not lucky enough to attend the URJC, through their knowledge”.

As in every celebration of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the medals of honour and merit were awarded to the recently retired members of the PDI and PTGAS groups and to the relatives of those who, unfortunately, passed away.

In addition, as is customary in this type of event, representatives of the different groups that make up the university community have been given the floor: PTGAS, PDI and Students.

Digital transformation is a necessity

On behalf of PTGAS, the director of the Information Technology Area, Juan Manuel Dévora, spoke. He praised the work in the field of digital transformation carried out at the Rey Juan Carlos University and recalled that this process has become “a necessity” and that “universities that do not adapt to a hybrid teaching and learning format will disappear.”

In this regard, he highlighted the launch and development of the Power U initiative, which is undertaking training in Artificial Intelligence tools and changing the technological culture of the university community.

Dévora has also claimed the role of the PTGAS group in this transformation process and has defended the need to strengthen this group since the URJC is “the one with the most unfavorable ratio of PTGAS in the Spanish university system with respect to both PDI and Students”. The technology director wanted to highlight the work “often not perceived” of this group, especially in the transformation process in which the university is immersed.

Dévora pointed out that Artificial Intelligence can facilitate and improve many of the processes that occur today in universities. For example, she mentioned that, “for students with mobility, a series of subjects could be set up that, with the guidance of an AI assistant in several languages, could greatly facilitate the attraction of international students.”

Juan Manuel Dévora has pointed out that the URJC should be proud of the work of its PTGAS and in view of the necessary transformation that is already being undertaken at the URJC, he pointed out that “we have the tools, we have the experience and we know how to do it”. In addition, he had some words of admiration and gratitude towards the people honoured at the medal ceremony.

Connecting the classroom and industry

The professor of Applied Economics, María Teresa Ballestar, participated in the event on behalf of the PDI. She highlighted the role of a teacher who is in extinction “who divides his time between the classroom and his work in the industry”, for which she used the example of her own career, as an academic at the URJC and as an employee at Google. From this point of view, Ballestar explained that the role of the teacher connected to the industry provides elements such as relevance and an “updated vision of the field of study and allows us to see how concepts discussed in the classroom are applied in the real world”. In addition, it makes it possible to understand the economic and social context in which technology is developed and this double role also “opens professional doors and a network of contacts in an increasingly competitive working world”, said the professor, who mentioned that soon “a group of 30 of my students will visit the Google facilities in Ireland”, being able to see first-hand how and what is being worked on at the technological giant.

Ballester also took advantage of her speech to claim the role of the public university as a transformative element, recalling that both she and her brother are the first generation of their family to pursue university studies thanks to scholarships and the efforts of their parents, and she stressed the need for more women in STEM careers, "I have been the only one on many teams," she recalled.

He also dedicated a few words to explaining his concept of a public university and, in particular, of the Rey Juan Carlos University as a meeting place where ideas and perspectives are confronted, a microcosm of the diversity of society. The university, he pointed out, “is a privilege and a responsibility, which combines being able to share a passion with people with minds eager to learn with the mandate to form critical and conscious citizens who do not stop asking questions and who offer innovative solutions to the different challenges that today's society faces.

Live the URJC experience

The student group, for its part, was represented by the former president of the URJC Student Council, Pablo Castillo.

This graduate of the degree in Early Childhood Education has made an unequivocal defence of public universities and “public education at all levels”. Castillo has pointed out that “living the URJC experience is everything that makes you grow personally and academically and what has led him to feel proud of URJC”, but for these elements to continue existing, he has indicated, it is essential that “the number of scholarships be increased and that the funding of public universities be increased”.

He also highlighted the role of the Casa del Estudiante initiative in supporting student proposals and welcomed the existence of Psychological Care scholarships, “I believe in a URJC that cares about mental health.”

Castillo has advocated for “the URJC experience to go beyond the classrooms” and has defended the role of the university as a social agent, using as an example the student campaign to collect aid for those affected by the recent DANA that devastated the Valencian Community, to which the entire university community was committed. In addition, this FCEDEI graduate wanted “to be proud of a university that gives opportunities to everyone and that listens, that those who go abroad do so with pride and a sense of belonging. I want the URJC to fight for social causes, diversity and feminism and against injustice and to have a firm response to any attack.”

A Saint Thomas of Aquinas who, once again, has served to pay tribute to and give voice to the different groups of the university community in addressing the challenges facing the university and highlighting its role as an actor of social transformation in all fields.