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 leads the U-Ranking for the eleventh consecutive year

UPF leads the U-Ranking for the eleventh consecutive year

UPF has maintained its leadership in all the editions of the classification published by the BBVA Foundation and the IVIE. This year it shares first position with Carlos III of Madrid and the Polytechnic of Catalonia. The University is sole leader in the Research and Innovation sub-ranking.

06.06.2023

Imatge inicial -

UPF, for the eleventh year in a row, has come first in the overall U-Ranking 2023 classification, remaining the leading university in Spain for its academic performance. UPF, which leads the overall ranking jointly with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Carlos III University of Madrid, tops the sub-ranking for Research and Innovation.

U-Ranking is a project driven by the BBVA Foundation and the IVIE, and it classifies Spanish universities on the basis of their teaching performance and innovation and research activities. In its 2023 edition, it analyses 71 Spanish universities, 48 public and 23 private, representing 98% of the Spanish University System (SUS), and it compares over 3,600 official bachelor’s degrees of these institutions in its classification of degrees.

The University is sole leader for the Research and Innovation sub-ranking, with an index of 1.9

In the overall performance ranking, UPF achieves a global index of 1.5, the same as UPC and UC3M. They are followed by the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with an index of 1.4, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, with an index of 1.3.

In the Research and Innovation sub-ranking, UPF stands top alone, achieving an index of 1.9, followed by the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, with 1.8. In the Teaching sub-ranking, there is a top block of six universities, with an index of 1.3, and a second block of seven universities, which includes UPF, with an index of 1.2.

The U-Ranking, which includes data from public information systems and statistical sources, analyses twenty indicators, grouped into two dimensions (teaching, and research and innovation), related to quality, internationalization, output and available resources, based on which each institution obtains a synthetic index.

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