The nine year-term of Alfonso. University of Navarra
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
Milestones
The nine year-term of Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero
President of the University 2012-2021
On 4 September, 2012, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero took office as the eighth President of the University of Navarra. Born in Salamanca 60 years ago, this Professor of Media Management became the first former student to hold the position. Before that, he served as Dean of the School of Communication (1996-2005), Vice-President of Institutional Communication (2005-2007) and Vice-President of International Relations (2007-2012).
That day, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero referred to the good inheritance he was receiving. "Our educational project is very clear: we want to be an institution of international scope, in which professors and researchers strive to be at the frontier of science in their specific field of knowledge; and which offers high quality teaching, based on the great proposals of Christian thought: the desire to discover the truth, respect for others, openness to the transcendent destiny of man, solidarity, help to those most in need ".
President Sánchez-Tabernero has frequently recalled the three pillars on which the University is based: clear priorities, committed professionals and excellent friends. This special report includes the main milestones that have marked his period as president.
TEACHING
14 new degrees have been launched (5 of them double), and another 3 have been modified.
In addition, 14 new master's programs have started
INTERNATIONALITY
When Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero took office, 15.72% of the students were international; today, 27.4% are international.
RESEARCH AND
TRANSFER
1,533 doctoral theses have been defended; and 4 new research centers have been created.
The University has launched more than 2,000 research projects and invested €738 million
SCHOLARSHIPS
2,877 Alumni scholarships worth €21,912,084 have been awarded
COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS
Alfonso's nine years as president have been defined by his determination to promote dialogue and collaboration between the University and institutions.
Thanks to his efforts, even in times of crisis, maximum levels of funding have been obtained for the development of research projects of CIMA, Ceit, ICS or the Museum Universidad de Navarra.
Alfonso with José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid
Alfonso's meeting with Uxue Barkos, President of the Regional Government at the time, and Koldo Martínez, spokesperson, at that time, for Geroa Bai in the Parliament of Navarra
Visit of the Office of the Executive Council to the Public University of Navarra (UPNA) in 2016
Alfonso with the President of the Regional Government of Navarra, María Chivite, and the Minister of Universities, Juan Carlos Cigudosa, on a visit to CIMA in 2019
NINE YEARS OF MAGNANIMOUS PROJECTS
In the nine years that Alfonso has been president, 1,533 doctoral theses have been defended, 2,076 research projects have been launched. In total, during his term, around € 739 million has been invested in research. In addition, 4 new research centers have been created:
In addition, 4 new research centers have been created:
- 2013: Center for Nutrition Research(CIN)
- 2014: Center for Biomedical Engineering (CIB)
- 2020: Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DATAI) and the Biodiversity and Environment Research Institute (BIOMA)
Alfonso inherited from the previous president, Ángel J. Gómez Montoro, the project of the Health Research Institute of Navarre(IdiSNA), created in 2010 together with the Department of Health of the Government of Navarra and the Public University of Navarra. In 2019, when he was president, IdiSNA was accredited as a Health Research Institute by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Alfonso during the announcement of the accreditation of IdiSNA as a Health Research Institute by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Alfonso with Concepción Naval, Dean of the School of Education and Psychology, created in 2013
With the constant development of theSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences the University approved a new School of Education and Psychology, which was established on 1 September, 2014. "The University of Navarra makes a serious and determined commitment to those degrees that most contribute to the development of people and society. Those in the areas of Education and Psychology identify with the humanistic mission and service of this institution, " explained the President at the time.
Over 44,000 students (both undergraduate and master’s) have studied at the university during his presidency, increasing the Alumni family to 179,489 members spread throughout the world. When he took office, 15.72% of the students were international; today, 27.4% are. Fourteen new degrees, five new double degrees and fourteen new master's degrees have been launched.
One of the great milestones of the last nine years has been the Museum Universidad de Navarra, inaugurated in 2015. Ángel J. Gómez Montoro started the project, which Alfonso enthusiastically completed.
The Museum has a collection of 20,000 pieces of photography, painting and sculpture, and it preserves 250,000 negatives. Since its inauguration, it has received over 690,000 visitors.
The other great milestone of Alfonso as president was the opening of the new Madrid Campus (Alumni Building) ) in 2018, a 13,000-square-meter building that houses a large part of the master's degrees taught by the University. 500 students are currently enrolled there. Along with the Alumni Building, the new premises of the Clinica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid were also inaugurated.
Alfonso at the inauguration of the Museum, which was attended by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on their first official trip to Navarre
Alfonso's message to the Alumni in relation to the
opening of the Alumni Building (Madrid Campus)
Within the Horizon 2020 strategic plan of the University, the Innovation Factory stands out. This center for entrepreneurship and innovation was the starting point of a transversal project which pursues the development of an entrepreneurial mind set across the University.
Horizon 2020 also consolidated Career Services. Today, the University's Career Service plays a fundamental role in the student experience. During Alfonso's nine years as president, 18,070 job offers and 30,308 internships, both national and international, have been managed by the service.
Alfonso at the closing of the Tecnun Employment Forum, together with the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu.
Almost at the same time that Alfonso was starting as president of the University, Tantaka, the University's solidarity time bank, was born. Its purpose was to "help those who help", as a visible proof of Christian identity, making itself available to NGOs and foundations.
Since then, Tantaka attracts over 1,000 volunteers every year who collaborate with more than 150 associations and dedicate more than 50,000 hours to helping society. In the 17/18 academic year, Tantaka-Tecnun was born, and a year later Tantaka arrived at the Madrid campus.
During these 9 years, the Tantaka Inclusion program has also emerged, with the aim of increasing the autonomy and inclusion of people with disabilities or those at risk of exclusion, through the improvement of their professional skills. 114 people have carried out professional internships at the University within this program.
Alfonso during the celebration of the first edition of the cycle "Training to understand disability" in 2015.
TWO ACADEMIC YEARS DURING COVID-19
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the campus to close on March 12, 2020. It was the first time in the history of the University that something of this kind had happened.
However, academic activity did not stop. In one weekend, all classes switched to remote format so that the students could finish the academic year in the best possible way. Throughout the following months, 40 theses were defended, students continued with their internships, and over 240 people, including students and employees, participated in 13 online solidarity initiatives.
In September 2020, once the worst of the pandemic was over, the students returned to campus, thanks to the Prepara2 Plan (Prepared2).
"As you know, crises have never led us to set initiatives aside. And that is, to a great extent, thanks to all those who are part of the university community, the Friends Association and many generous people who give their invaluable support so that the University of Navarra can offer a better service to society”.
-
2012
Alfonso and the media
The former President is a professor of Informative Business and has always been available with the media. The photo is from an interview he gave to Euskal Telebista in 2012.
-
2013
Passionate about soccer and Real Madrid
The passion of the former President for soccer is known, it is known that he plays weekly and that in his office he has always had a replica of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. In the image, he grants an honor scholarship to Vicente del Bosque in 2013.
-
2014
Agreements
During Sánchez Tabernero's tenure, the University has initiated a multitude of research agreements with companies. In the photo, from 2014, he signs an agreement with the president of Laboratorios Cinfa, Enrique Ordieres, for research in Nutrition.
-
2015
Great bet on art and culture
In January 2015, the University of Navarra Museum was opened, one of the University's clearest bets for a university education that includes art. In the image he appears with the artist Antonio López during one of his visits to the University.
-
2015
The University and the city of Pamplona
Sustainability and integration with the city have been some of the main concerns of the President Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero. In the image he accompanies Joseba Asiron, then mayor of Pamplona, during the sustainable mobility congress organized by the University and the City Council.
-
2016
Two universities
Another aspirations of Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero as President was to contribute to Navarra being a benchmark in the national and international university sphere. To advance in this line, the cooperation with the Public University of Navarra (UPNA) has been essential. In 2016, this photo was taken of the rectorships of both universities, in a meeting on the UPNA campus.
-
2017
The importance of the Alumni
More than 44,000 students have studied in the classrooms while Alfonso has been President, which has increased the Alumni family to 179,489 members, spread throughout the world.
-
2018
Transformative education
The fundamental objective of the University is to ensure that undergraduate and graduate students have a deep educational experience. The Museum, with its cultural offer, contributes to this. Also the presence of international students on campus. When Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero took office, 15.72% of the students were international; today, they are 27.4%.
-
2019
Great collaboration with the public and private sectors
Public-private collaboration has been one of the hallmarks of the President Sánchez-Tabernero. Perhaps one of the moments in which it showed itself best was during the pandemic, when the University made all the resources of the Clinic and the Cima available to the Government. In the picture, Alfonso is accompanied by María Pilar Civeira,CIMA director and the president of Navarra, María Chivite, and the counselor of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Juan Cruz .
-
2019
Investiture of Doctors Honoris Causa
Service to society and culture, from freedom, were some of the outstanding qualities of Professors Moneo, Archer, Picard and Fine, who were invested by the University as honorary doctorates. In the image, Alfonso appears with the Grand Chancellor, D. Fernando Ocáriz, moments before the investiture.
-
2021
Course opening 2020-2021
At the University, government decisions are made collegially. The role of the President is fundamental as head of a team, the Presidency. In the picture, Alfonso appears with the black academic dresses, a symbol of his authority, and the rest of the Presidency at the opening of the 21-22 academic year.
