Mondragon University has celebrated the commencement of the academic year

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Mondragon University has celebrated the commencement of the academic year

Event

Mondragon University has celebrated the commencement of the academic year

In the act participated the Lehendakari of the Basque Government and the Minister of Education, the Dean, the General Secretary and the President of Mondragon University among other authorities.

2018·09·14

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"Our real vocation and mission is to transform society through education; to train the individuals and youth who want to make this country a model for advanced, competitive industrial counties". At today's official inauguration of the academic year 2018/2019, the Dean of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Vicente Atxa, emphasised the university's commitment to the education of young people, research and transfer of knowledge, as well as the close collaboration with companies, organisations that form part of Mondragon Unibertsitatea's DNA.

 

The new academic year was inaugurated at the Orona Foundation campus of the Higher Polytechnic School, which was born 75 years ago to meet the needs of Basque society and the Mondragon Cooperative Group. The event was chaired by the Dean and the Lehendakari of the Basque Government, Iñigo Urkullu, was in charge of the official inauguration. Both were accompanied by the Councillor for Education of the Basque Government, Cristina Uriarte, the President of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Mikel Álvarez, the General Secretary of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Idoia Peñacoba, the President of the Basque Parliament, Bakartxo Telleria and the Head of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Markel Olano, in addition to other authorities.

 

Basque University System

 

The Dean asserted the positive complementary and competitive nature of the three universities that comprise the Basque University System. In reference to the new University Plan being drawn up, he also highlighted that "it is only with a good system that we can offer the best university education and fulfil our commitment with society". In his view, "we cannot compete with the universities of large countries, whether in size or volume. Therefore, we must be specialists, more agile, more innovative and learn how to reinvent ourselves".

 

Mondragon Unibertsitatea meets this challege each year. The Dean emphasised the university's urge to excel, its more than 5,000 graduate, master's and PhD degree students, differentiated from other universities by its close relationship with companies,  where we are the leaders in dual education in Euskadi and Spain" and the transfer of knowledge to these, educational innovation to improve and transform student experiences during their university phase by adding new degrees and new learning methods; research applied to excellence and internationalisation.

 

the greatest contribution of Mondragon Unibertsitatea to the development of Euskadi as a country is the higher education of youth and the support shown for company competitiveness". In his view, the main key for competitiveness of small countries like Euskadi is associated with competitiveness of individuals, companies and sustainable economic growth. "Euskadi will only become a competitive country on the world stage if it can train a more competitive youth, with more knowledge, values, skills and capacities than those countries we have to compete with". As highlighted by the Dean, "Euskadi cannot afford not to make the most of the talent of each and every member of its youth".

 

The Dean ended his speech by insisting on the value of the education provided by Mondragon Unibertsitatea over the 75 years of its history and the many families who have had the possibility of educating and making a better future for their children regardless of their social condition and economic sufficiency

 

The inauguration speech was made beforehand by the professor-researcher of the Higher Polytechnic School, doctor Goiuria Sagardui, whose lecture was titled  “Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa: 75 urte jakintza sustatuz. Software Ingenieritza: 50 urte etorkizuna eraikitzen/Mondragon Higher Polytechnic School: 75 years consolidating knowledge. Software engineering: 50 years building the future”

 

Balance of the 2017/2018 academic year

 

On the other hand, the General Secretary of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Idoia Peñacoba, presented the Academic Report for 2017-2018, highlighting the fact that Mondragon Unibertsitatea offered 15 graduate degrees, as well as dual degrees in Software Engineering and Telecommunication System Engineering and 15 official master's degrees, two of which were offered for the first time. In addition, 15 degrees, 10 graduate degrees and 5 master's degrees obtained the official dual degree certificate from the Basque Government, which makes Mondragon Unibertsitatea the Basque university with the most dual degrees and serves to guarantee Mondragon Unibertsitatea's experience in dual training throughout its history.

 

The enrollment for the academic year 2017/2018 showed a 9% increase over the previous year, amounting to 4,804 students. 4,087 students enrolled in graduate degrees and 717 in post-graduate studies. A total of 6,656 students enrolled in the various post-graduate studies, university degrees and other courses for professionals that the university offers in situ, semi- onsite and online.

 

As regards the international spectrum, an increasing number of students finish their education abroad, while more and more students from other countries come to study at Mondragon Unibertsitatea. Last year, 1,042 students went to study abroad (27% more than the previous academic year). On the other hand, there were 399 foreign students added to the student body.

 

With regard to R&D at Mondragon Unibertsitatea, the university understands that the integration of its three activities - education, research and knowledge transfer - is the most efficient way to increase the quality of its education and fulfil its social commitment. This activity underwent a significant increase during 2017/2018 (25% more than the previous academic year), both as regards income and the number of projects and transfer activities, which amounted to more than 549 all told.

 

A large part of these research and transfer activities are carried out within the framework of collaborative investigation programs, founded on the principles of aligning investigation with long-term collaboration of the three key agents: the university, the technological centres and companies. These collaborative investigation programs include training young talented individuals who have recently begun to work in the various companies.