On 20 July, UIC Barcelona closed the 2022-2023 academic year with the university faculty closing session, in which a review of a special year of celebration of the University’s 25 years of history. 

UIC Barcelona began the commemorative year with a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving in the Sagrada Familia Church on 2 October, the day on which, 25 years earlier, approval of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya was published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC). And the finishing touch to the commemorative year was the UIC Barcelona Global Meeting that took place on 21 June at the Palau de la Música Catalana. The event brought together more than 1000 former students, members of the university community and collaborators who supported the project during all these years. 

The academic year was inaugurated on 6 October, and more than 500 people gathered in the University’s Aula Magna lecture theatre to hear the master lecture by Valenti Fuster, renowned cardiologist and doctor honoris causa of UIC Barcelona. After this event, the University held almost one event per month throughout the academic year. 

Worthy of mention is the visit in April by Richard Taylor and his commercial partner Tania Rodgers, partners of Wētā Workshop. Their company, Wētā Workshop, through special effects gave life to films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, Avatar or The Chronicles of Narnia. During their stay, Rodgers and Taylor spoke and gave two workshops to students studying different bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at the University.

In May, Eduardo Bruera, a world leader in palliative care, visited UIC Barcelona to participate in the Symposium: People, Care and Society. For three days he spoke on caring for people from different fields and perspectives, and was invested doctor honoris causa by the University, the eighth doctorate honoris causa awarded by UIC Barcelona.

There was also a charity race in November, and an exhibition of the University’s art collection in May. All events can be revisited through videos, reports and images in the following blog that was created specifically for the 25th anniversary celebration.