As part of its 25th anniversary, the University held the UIC Barcelona Global Meeting at the Palau de la Música Catalana, an event that brought together around 1000 people, including members of the current university community, former students, as well as businesses and institutions that have contributed to the University during these 25 years. Attending the event were personalities such as the Conseller of Universities and Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Joaquim Nadal; former President of the Generalitat José Montilla or the former Minister of Health and Director of the University Institute for Patients, Boi Ruiz. The event was held in an exceptional setting and led by journalist Ramon Pellicer, member of the UIC Barcelona University Advisory Council.

As part of the event, Conseller Joaquim Nadal congratulated UIC Barcelona on its 25th anniversary and stressed the importance of the journey made in view of the upcoming challenges the University faces. “There is no future without a past. UIC Barcelona is a young and tangible reality that has been built day by day, in a present continuous and by the dream of those who wanted to create it.”

The main part of the event was about artificial intelligence, and was led by Ramón López de Mántaras, a pioneer scientist in AI, and Núria Ramírez, presenter at RTVE and former Journalism student, who spoke with the expert about the immediate challenges that artificial intelligence is generating. “We must be clear that artificial intelligence is very different from human intelligence. Know where the limits are. For example, AI has no life experience. Similarly, we need to combat misinformation and defamation about AI-generated models like ChatGPT.”

During the event, the UIC Barcelona Alumni Award was presented in two categories. Valentina Riverso (Architecture) as winner and representative of the Alumni Award for Best Social Transformation Project, and Ignacio Blasi (Dentistry) as winner of the Alumni Professional Career Recognition Award. Josep M. Pujol and Teófilo Sánchez, key figures in promoting the project, received an emotional institutional recognition.

José Ignacio Parellada, president of the UIC Barcelona Alumni Group, highlighted the projects promoted by Alumni, such as the Cicle Emprèn! (Entrepreneurship Series), the Alumni Breakfast Club, the Alumni Ambassador or the figure of the alumni coordinators for the faculties. Finally, he encouraged all former students to become part of the UIC Barcelona community. “We are UIC Barcelona. From any position. We are the best example and the best ambassadors of the University. UIC Barcelona is counting on us, let’s reconnect.”

Attendees were able to see, among others, Joel Bueno of the SIFU Group who performed live “Every breath you take” using the Eyeharp. The Grupo SIFU Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works for social and occupational integration of people with functional diversity. The event ended with space for networking with the collaborators from the different businesses and institutions attending the event, along with members of the university community and former students.

UIC Barcelona Rector Alfonso Méndiz closed the event by thanking all former students, collaborators and members of the university community. “During the 25th anniversary, we have learned the importance of reuniting, of rediscovering the values that make up the University and we have understood the importance of the UIC Barcelona mission. Teaching is a commitment to an education that transforms the minds and hearts of our students allowing their profession to become a service to others.”

The UIC Barcelona Global Meeting, with the cooperation of Caixabank and Compass Group Eurest, was the last institutional event commemorating the 25th anniversary of UIC Barcelona. Among the events held during this academic year that stand out include the institutional act in memoriam of Dr Jordi Cervós i Navarro, first rector of UIC Barcelona; the visit and session with Richard Taylor and Tania Rodgers, partners of Weta Workshop; or the People, Care and Society Symposium, among others.

The event was carried out with the cooperation of Caixabank and Compass Group Eurest.