Contra el genocidi i contra la violació dels drets humans, a Gaza i arreu del món

Peace comes when you talk to the person you most hate. And that’s where the courage of a leader comes. 

Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), first recipient of an honorary doctorate from UPF

These words, spoken by Desmond Tutu, the first person ever to be awarded an honorary doctorate by UPF, are more applicable today than ever. The UPF condemns, and will always condemn, the use of violence to settle disputes. At UPF, we advocate approaching political or territorial conflicts based on dialogue and respect for all peoples and minorities.  

As a university, we also want to show our support to the academic community in countries at war. Universities and scientific institutions are more necessary than ever in these regions. Access to education and the promotion of critical thinking, in the context of strong independent institutions, are the way to ensure the informed debate and reflection that can open the door to new avenues for finding solutions.

At UPF, we are aware of the university community’s concern for the human rights violations we are seeing in the conflicts around us. That is why on this website you will find information about campaigns and actions related to current conflicts, as well as opinion pieces and institutional statements. We also offer a dedicated e-mail address – [email protected] – to contact the university and let us know about your interests and concerns.

UPF climbs in the QS ranking of young universities

UPF climbs in the QS ranking of young universities

The University ranks 27th best young university in the world and eighth in Europe

24.11.2015

QS has today published the results of the 2015 edition of the Top Under 50 ranking, a classification the company has produced since 2012 of the best universities in the world under 50 years of age. In this edition, UPF has come in 27th place globally, improving four places compared to last year, and is eighth in Europe and third in the Spanish State.

Parallel with this classification, QS also publishes other products that evaluate the results of universities according to field of knowledge or, more specifically, discipline. According to the former, UPF ranks 119th best university in the world for Social Sciences and Management and 235th for Humanities. Moreover, in the classification by subject, UPF stands out for Economics and Econometrics, where it comes 23rd in the world and is among the top two hundred for Linguistics, Accounting and Finance, Communication and Media Studies, Law and Politics and International Studies.

Asian dominance of the ranking

The ranking shows a clear majority of European universities among the top 50 (23), followed by Asian (16) and Australian (8) universities. However, in keeping with the trend of previous years, the top positions continue to be held by Asian universities, mainly from Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea.

The QS ranking of young universities is produced on the basis of the results obtained in the overall classification, published by the company the previous September. In the overall classification for 2015, QS made some changes to its methodology in order to normalize the data of publications and citations from various areas in order to reduce differences between disciplines. 

Generalitat de Catalunya
 

Catalan government 

Catalan development cooperation aims to help prevent and respond to emergency situations. This page explains how you can collaborate on the provision of foreign aid both in general and to specific regions.  

Visit the website

European Commission

Through cooperation and assistance programmes, the European Commission offers humanitarian aid and coordinates efforts with other international actors to promote peace and stability in war-torn regions. 

More information


 

Oxfam Intermón

Oxfam Intermón works in 90 countries. They have launched a fundraising campaign, which is more necessary than ever, given the magnitude of today’s wars. The NGO is also sponsoring a campaign to collect signatures to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Visit the website

Médicos sin fronteras
 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a medical-humanitarian action organization that provides assistance in 70 countries to people threatened by armed conflicts, violence, epidemics or neglected diseases, natural disasters and exclusion from medical care. They have also promoted a campaign to collect signatures to ask for a ceasefire in Gaza.

More information

Creu Roja

Red Cross

The Red Cross also provides emergency humanitarian aid in regions in crisis. 

More information

Clínica Jurídica
 

Legal Clinic 

The UPF Legal Clinic regularly holds talks and roundtables on the protection of human rights in crisis regions.

More information

Biblioteques sense fronteres
 

Libraries Without Borders

The Libraries Without Borders programme, sponsored by the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency (ACCD), offers Catalan public library patrons knowledge and insight into situations of human rights violations and provides resources to take action. 

More information

logo cara
 

Council for At-Risk Academics

The Council for At-Risk Academics, in partnership with universities and higher education institutions, provides urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks. 

Visit the website