Rolf Tarrach reflects on the criteria that should be taken into account when evaluating universities
Rolf Tarrach reflects on the criteria that should be taken into account when evaluating universities
Rolf Tarrach, president of the European University Association (EUA) and former rector of the University of Luxembourg, has shown himself to be in favour of a thorough university evaluation with solid criteria, as he stated during the official opening ceremony of the 2015-2016 academic year also celebrating the 25thb anniversary of UPF, at which he delivered the inaugural lecture.
The event, which took place on 29 October at 12 noon at the auditorium of the Ciutadella campus, was presided over by Jaume Casals, UPF rector, with the presence of Andreu Mas-Colell, minister of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia; Ada Colau, mayor of Barcelona; Núria Basi, president of the UPF Board of Trustees, and Pelegrí Viader, general secretary of the University.
Other authorities present were Antoni Castellà, secretary for Universities and Research of the Generalitat; Albert Carreras, general secretary of the Department of Economics and Knowledge; Raimundo Viejo, councillor for Education and Universities of Barcelona City Council; Josep M. Garrell and Ferran Sancho, rectors of Ramon Llull University and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, respectively, and other vice-rectors and personalities from the academic, political and social spheres of Catalonia.
A welcome by Jaume Casals got the event under way, which was broadcast live on the UPF website and on Twitter (#UPF25anys). Then, the video of the first 25 years of the University was projected, which included a review of the most relevant dates and events during this period.
This was followed by the presentation of the prize for the design competition of the graphic identity of the 25th anniversary of UPF, which was awarded to Jaume Badosa, holder of an advanced degree in Design by Escola Elisava, which was then followed by the inaugural lecture by Rolf Tarrach.
Inaugural lecture by Rolf Tarrach
Rolf Tarrach, president of the European University Association (EUA), began his lecture “Evaluating and comparing: yes, but properly” by mentioning his personal relationship with UPF: his wife worked and one of his sons studied a first cycle here, in addition to the relationship he has had with the different rectors and academic officers.
Once focused on the subject of the lecture, professor Tarrach stated that “you have to show proof that what is done at the university is useful for the economic development of society and of individuals”, and this is what gives rise to evaluations and comparison between universities. To carry out this process, “self-assessment is not enough”, he assured. The president of the EUA structured his speech around two axes: indicators and rankings. With regard to indicators, he came straight to the point when saying that we must pay more attention to intensive indicators than to extensive ones, since the former always refer to results (for example, number of citations) in comparison with something (average number of citations of a specific discipline, according to the number of researchers, etc.), whereas the latter, only measure the total size of the system.
The second part of the lesson focused on rankings, a field in which he separated those that affect people and those that affect institutions. In the first group, he criticized coefficients (such as the “H factor”) which overrate the number of publications in which an author publishes, rather than the number of citations.
In reference to the institutions, Rolf Tarrach spoke of the desirability of considering what universities are like when comparing them: “Shouldn’t we take the profile of the institutions into account? What they want to do? Their goals? If they operate locally or internationally? We must evaluate institutions that have comparable profiles”, he stressed.
Rolf Tarrach concluded his speech by reflecting on evaluation: “A lot of progress is being made in this area; it has become a new discipline of the social sciences”. And he added: “Societies must take this into account, but it shouldn’t be the guideline of the strategies of universities, which should point towards a more social aspect”.
Awarding of the 2015 prizes by the Board of Trustees and speech by Núria Basi
After the inaugural lecture came the awarding of the UPF Board of Trustees prizes by Núria Basi, its president. The prizes are for quality in teaching; knowledge transfer; initiative and innovation in administration and services, and finally, the winners of the second edition of the Solidarity Social Responsibility Projects Competition, promoted in conjunction with the office of the vice-rector for Social Responsibility and Promotion.
Núria Basi, who at the end of this academic year, and after eight years’ service, will end her spell at the head of the Board of Trustees, commented that “UPF has been and is a successful project thanks to the contribution of society as a whole”. She assured that “from the very first moment, the University has never ceased to be recognized for its quality and prestige”, and she thanked the efforts of everyone who has worked, studied or collaborated with the institution over the course of 25 years.
Speech by Andreu Mas-Colell
Andreu Mas-Colell, minister of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia and one of the founders of the University, of which he is full professor of Economics, stated at the start of his speech that “UPF has been a success story. When things go well it’s because they started well, and this university started well”, and he acknowledged “the huge and successful task that the founding rector, Enric Argullol, carried out during the first stage of the institution”. The desire to create a quality university, universal with regard to the areas of knowledge and whose internal organization consisted of large, independent units and departments were the keys to success.
Speech by Ada Colau
Ada Colau started her speech by congratulating the University: “UPF’s 25th anniversary bears testimony to an institution that in a short time has become an international benchmark university”. The mayor of Barcelona reviewed some of the milestones that the University has achieved for the benefit of the city, such as the urban regeneration of the Ciutat Vella and Sant Martí districts through the establishment of its campuses. The mayor requested the collaboration of UPF with two of the challenges facing her municipal government. On the one hand, to ensure that students who live in less privileged environments can successfully finish their university studies; and on the other hand, for the university to help to devise the city.
Speech by the rector, Jaume Casals
Some of the aspects reviewed by Jaume Casals are the confusion that still surrounds whether UPF is a public or a private university (“UPF is a public university to serve the public... that must be done in the best possible way”); the deficiencies in the hiring of teaching staff (“I feel motivated to tell you that this University has to invest mainly in young ‘teachers’ that drive us forward”); the commitment to autonomy, accountability, inclusion and inclusiveness; or the need to value the “most unique” colleagues, and to work meaningfully.
Towards the end of his speech, Jaume Casals, in reference to UPF, commented that, despite having a small budget and being the second-to-last Catalan university as regards public funding, he has faith in the institution. Finally, he declared the 2015-2016 academic year open and the UPF Choir performed the traditional university song Gaudeamus Igitur.
Poster for the inauguration of the 2015-2016 academic year and biography of its author, Max de Esteban
Max de Esteban, author of the poster entitled “25 years”, commented on how he was inspired to carry out this work: “The poster coincides with the 25th anniversary of the founding of UPF, years that will be remembered as transitional. Science invades the body, the last barrier of resistance to a technological totality. Capitalism abandons its illustrated tradition and flourishes in feudal societies”. And he adds: “What role does the university play, understood as the locus of transmission and creation of knowledge in this context? Or what is the same: is there a future for critical humanities in a new digital society?”
