Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

Research universities across the world:Paths to academic excellence

Josep Joan Moreso Rector of Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona

THE BIRTH AND REVIVAL OF UNIVERSITIESMoscow, October 2012

UPF: a young public university of quality

Times Higher Education ranking (2012) 100 under 50:

position 17 worldwide and 1st-ranked Spanish university

Strategies for International Excellence of European Research Universities: sharing best practices

• Students: 9.115 + 4.054– Undergraduate: 9.115 – Postgraduate: 2.927– Doctoral students: 1.127

• Academic staff: – Faculty members: 324– Part-time and other teaching staff: 556

• Administrative and service staff: 670

• Budget (2012): €121’9M– 53% Ordinary public funding– 22% Research– 16% Students fees

• Institutions: – 7 faculties; 1 polytechnic school; 8 departments; 3 university institutes; 4

associated centres; 3 postgraduate platforms; 1 continuing education institute

UPF, an overview* (academic year 2011 - 2012)

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

*Data does not include affiliated centres

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

Ciutadella Campus:Social Sciences andHumanities

Mar Campus: Health and Life Sciences

Poblenou Campus :Communication andInformation Technologies

A urban university at the heart of Barcelona

Mar campus: health and life sciences

Poblenou campus:communication and information technologies

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

Teaching quality

•21 undergraduate studies, 109 master’s degrees and 9 doctoral programmes

•Main indicators of teaching quality:– 2 students apply for every UPF available place (2012-13)

– The highest rate of academic achievement in Spain: 86% (2010-11)

– Employability rate: 87% (Catalan Quality Assurance Agency, 2011)

– Satisfaction rate: 93% of UPF graduates would choose the same university again (Catalan Quality Assurance Agency, 2011)

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

Research & Innovation

• 22% of university funding comes from research activity (competitive and non competitive calls) (2012)

• One of the twenty European universities with more projects awarded by the European Research Council (10 in 2012)

• 1st Spanish university in international cooperation and field normalized citation score (Scimago Institutions Rankings, SIR World Report, 2011)

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

International Vocation

• 37% of official masters’ students and 50% of doctoral students are international (2011-12)

• 16% of students are in mobility at UPF (2011-12)

• Study Abroad Programme: 912 students (2011-12)

• 29% of graduates undertook study periods abroad (2010-11)

• 1st Spanish Univ. in “International faculty” (THE 2011)

• Agreements with 27 of the Top 50 world’s univ. (THE, 2011)

Current context in Spanish & Catalan HEIs’

•General economic crisis and budgetary cuts in universities’ funding:<0’4% Catalan GDP (2012)

•Governance: rigidity and lack of full autonomy

•Faculty recruitment and academic promotion: – No wage flexibility

– Exceptions: some flexible forms of research/teaching contracts

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

UPF’s institutional policy

recruitinginternational talent at all levels

STUDENTS

•Undergraduate studies: – English-taught programmes and courses, study abroad

programme, UPF-UCLA summer school– 14% of new students finished high school w/honors (2012-13)

•Graduate studies:– 8 out of 9 Doctoral programmes recognised with the Mention to

Excellence (Spanish Ministry of Education)– 65% of thesis defended in English (2011-12)

(+) Specialised postgraduate platforms: Barcelona GSE (economics) Barcelona School of Management (BSM) (management) Barcelona Institute for International Relations (IBEI) (politics, IR)

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

TEACHING AND RESEARCH:A singular model of Administration - Universities partnership

• ICREA programme (2001)– Goal: to promote research in any field of knowledge by recruiting

international talent for the Catalan R&D system– Annual call - 282 researchers hired from 2001– Salary flexibility: permanent positions that allow ICREA researchers

to join and lead research groups working at Catalan universities and research centres

•Universities programme (2012-15, 2nd phase)– Goal: to recruit talent for Catalan universities on international

standards (482 permanent professors recruited from 2004-10)– Offering salary flexibility: flexible forms of teaching contracts in areas

of specialization where the University can excel

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

UPF’s recruitment policy and results

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

An OPEN POLICY to international talent Profile: strong in research + international

experience To take advantage of these governmental flexible

forms of research contracts (ICREA, SH) UPF’s RESULTS in competitive calls (2012)

At a Catalan level: ICREA (38) Icrea Academia (20, the 10% of the Catalan system)

At a Spanish level: Ramón y Cajal (27) Juan de la Cierva (21)

At a European level. 31 ERC Grants: Starting grants (14) Advanced grants (17)

Research universities across the world: paths to academic excellence // 3rd Int. Conf. RAHER, October 20th 2012

Thanks!

Universitat Pompeu Fabra is named after the man who laid down the standards of the modern Catalan language.