Two candidates, Joan Guàrdia and Eugeni Graugés, will compete on December 4 and 5 for the position of rector of the largest Catalan university, the University of Barcelona (UB). Guàrdia brought forward the elections a year and, against all odds and on the last day, the dean of the Physics faculty showed up.
The new university regulations, the organic law of the University System (LOSU), allows any member of the teaching staff to run for election, with some requirements, and not necessarily an official professor, as was the case before the law.
This is the situation of Graugés, who is a professor through work. Another aspect that the new law also changes is the length of time in office. According to the new legislation, the duration of the mandate will be six years, non-extendable and non-renewable (previously it was four).
In the presentation of the candidates, Professor of Psychology Joan Guàrdia (Barcelona, 1958) explained the progress made in the last three years and detailed a specific 10-point plan for the new mandate.
He justified the early elections so as not to slow down the momentum of projects that are already underway, such as the Mies plan, the expansion of the Clínic or the Fine Arts campus, and that have the support of various public administrations.
He announced a new “short, flexible, modern and adaptable” statute. He also explained that an agreement is close with the administration that would allow the hiring of 7,000 extraordinary positions and the creation of new profiles.
Although he did not reveal his government program, which will be known as Graugés', on Wednesday, he stated that it will be defined by the principles of gender equality, defense of the environment, freedoms and inclusion.
“My challenge is for them to know me,” Eugeni Graugés (Ripoll, 1972) said yesterday. This researcher in quantum physics and dean of the Faculty of Physics since 2021, explained yesterday that he decided to present himself in view of the "shortcomings" of the university, the lack of transparency with which the projects are carried out and that his "complaints" they are not resolved.
Its program, not yet revealed, is committed to improving university facilities to make them more "dignified", more hiring and new profiles, especially administration, and attracting investment for research. He stated that he will highlight the importance of the UB as the country's first scientific producer after the CSIC.
Graugés criticized the shock plan promoted by the Generalitat as insufficient, it is a "contribution", but it does not solve the main problem.
If they win, they will review and make public the measures that have been adopted, as well as the count of needs.
