Jaume Casals sworn in as rector

On 3 June in the auditorium of the Ciutadella campus, Jaume Casals Pons became rector of Pompeu Fabra University. The ceremony, presided by Andreu Mas-Colell, minister of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia, was attend by some three hundred people, including former rectors Enric Argullol (1990-2001) and Josep Joan Moreso (2005-2013).

The new president began his speech by thanking his predecessor for the “extraordinary effort and talent he has devoted to all of us during his years as rector”. He then set out some of the central points of his mandate ending by appointing all of the members of his team and asking the university community and institutions for their confidence. “The successes of Catalan institutions are successes for Catalonia and belong to all”, he concluded.

Casals, full professor of Philosophy at UPF, was elected at the elections held on 29 April, at which he was the sole candidate. Participation by permanent lecturers was 52.5%, of whom 80% voted for the candidate. Among PAS, participation reached 42.3%, with 52.5% of votes cast in his favour. As for the other electoral groups, participation was 7.18%. Of the total votes cast, 54.1% were in favour of the candidate.

Photo: Jaume Casals, on the day he became rector.