On Friday, December 13, 2024, an academic cooperation agreement was signed between eUnivand the University of Andorra. This initial agreement aims to transfer, from eUniv, the teaching materials related to the Andorran Political System, part of its Bachelor’s program in Political Science, developed by a team of individuals coordinated by Pol Bartolomé.
Under this agreement, the University of Andorra, which is also planning to introduce a Bachelor’s program in Political Science, will be able to use these teaching materials in its courses and publish them in the Catalan language.
The agreement was signed in the Boardroom of the eUniv headquarters by Dr. Jesús M. Prujà, Chancellor of eUniv, and Dr. Juli Minoves, Rector of the University of Andorra. Subsequently, the delegation of academic authorities from the University of Andorra accompanying its Rector was welcomed by the Vice-Chancellors of eUniv and had the opportunity to visit eUniv’s facilities.
The event was held at the Aula Rector Noguero in Sant Julià, with the presence of about fifty attendees
This Friday, December 13, the second doctoral thesis defense at eUniv (European University) took place at the university’s headquarters in Sant Julià. It was conducted by Mr. Xavier Francesc de Fantova under the title The Historical Universities of the Principality of Catalonia (1300–1717): Solsona. The event, which began at 11:00 AM, was attended by the Bishop of Solsona, His Excellency and Reverend Monsignor Francesc Conesa, and the Councillor of Culture of Solsona, Albert Colell, along with the corresponding academic authorities and over fifty attendees.
The session concluded at 2:00 PM with the presentation of the corresponding certificate to the doctoral candidate by the Presidency. Mr. Fantova emphasized “the pride of receiving this recognition from an institution that fosters knowledge and its transmission in the way eUniv does.” The university’s academic protonotary, Dr. Marc Escolà, stated that “eUniv positions the doctoral program as a central axis of university activity and its commitment to knowledge and the environment in which the university operates.”
This doctoral thesis is part of the research line University and Country: Universities in Catalan History, which examines the role of Catalan universities, conceptualized as social institutions, within the evolutionary framework of the country’s history. eUniv hopes to present new thesis defenses linked to this research line in the near future.
On November 30, the Artificial Intelligence and Culture Conference was held at the Andorra la Vella Congress Center, organized by the Andorran entity Cultura Activa, chaired by Ms. Maria Cucurull, a member of the Academic Senate of eUniv.
During the conference, discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence poses for the future of the Catalan language and culture. The final roundtable featured Dr. Eladi Llop, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at eUniv, who shared his insights from the perspective of higher university education.
The event also included the public presentation of the EINA project, an initiative aimed at promoting the social use of Catalan in the digital era and addressing the challenges that Generative Artificial Intelligence may pose for the most creative forms of the arts, particularly audiovisual and musical expressions.
The Vice-Rector for Academic Organization, Dr. Eladi Llop, and the coordinator of the Bachelor’s in Humanities, Mr. Xavier Fantova, participated in the symposium Heritage Valorization through Information and Communication Technologies, organized by the Turó de la Seu Vella Chair in Lleida, on November 29.
The event included, among other topics, presentations on how artificial intelligence can offer various experiences to enhance tourism and how augmented reality (videomapping) can be applied to the tourism sector.
eUniv is one of the founding entities of the Turó de la Seu Vella Chair, representing the Principality of Andorra, as it was in the capital of the Segre where the Andorran Pariatges were signed in the 13th century.
The ninth edition of the International Marketing Symposium of Andorra (SIMA), dedicated to the Challenges and opportunities for Andorra’s key sectors in light of the Association Agreement with the European Union, was held on November 27 and 28, 2024, at the Congress Centre of Andorra la Vella.
Dr. Marc B. Escolà, Academic Protonotary of eUniv, participated as a speaker in a panel discussion about the impact of the potential association on the Andorran educational sector. Other participants in the discussion included Mr. Francesc X. Campuzano, Director of Higher Education; Ms. Urgell Sansa, Manager of UdA, and Ms. Clara Pintat, Director of the international school Ágora.
During the session, the specific challenges of conducting university activities from Andorra with a focus on an international audience were highlighted. Additionally, emphasis was placed on the particular difficulties of promoting advanced research, as Andorra cannot access the funds of the European Research Area, which are a key part of the European Union’s scientific policy.
TSIUC’24 analyzed the current regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, focusing on existing recommendations, processes, and regulations, and showcased the benefits of an orderly AI deployment to minimize risks and ensure its responsible use.
Additionally, TSIUC’24 aimed to highlight the use of AI as a powerful tool in the learning process through inspiring use cases and addressed the role of AI in the digital transformation of universities, considering technology, data, processes, and people.
The conference sought to provide a space for reflection and debate on how to effectively and comprehensibly implement AI, as well as to address the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the university context across teaching, research, and management.
Representing the European University-eUniv at the conference was Joaquim Vallés, Director of the University Institute of Applied Technology (IUTA).
eUniv, represented by its Quality Manager, Mr. Aleu Miret, participated in the European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF), held from November 14 to 16 at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
The EQAF is a leading platform for all stakeholders involved in quality assurance in higher education, offering a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices.
This year’s forum, titled “Enhancing Education, Research, and Social Engagement Through Quality Assurance”, featured sessions on policies and trends, research, and practical examples related to current advancements in quality assurance in higher education.
The University prepares programs to transfer knowledge to businesses
Ramon Puente is one of the most prominent voices in digital trends at eUniv, the university institution based in Andorra. The entrepreneur, business advisor, and investor is not only a professor of the Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Organization Engineering but will also lead the upcoming digital transformation course for executives that eUniv is developing. Puente has reflected on the transformation of business models and society through digitization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, highlighting the impact of these trends and their implementation in Andorra, a country that “aims to position itself as a leader in digital innovation.”
One of the country’s strengths, according to the professor, is its commitment to digitization: “With government support and agreements with international institutions, Andorra is creating a favorable environment for businesses to innovate ethically and responsibly.” Puente emphasizes the importance and potential of applying AI in key sectors such as tourism and fintech. “The intelligent use of data can help businesses become more efficient and sustainable, especially in tourism, where we can offer personalized experiences without negatively impacting the local community,” Puente explains.
The size and characteristics of Andorra’s economy represent a unique opportunity to serve as a testing ground. “In a small country, it’s easier to implement and test technologies in both the public and private sectors, which can serve as a reference for other places,” concludes Puente. He adds that this vision must be accompanied by the necessary commitment to achieve digital and sustainable development that benefits both organizations and Andorran society as a whole.
The omnichannel approach, where consumers interact with brands through multiple touchpoints such as social media and physical stores, is revolutionizing the way businesses connect with their customers. Sustainability also holds a prominent place in his discourse. Under the 3P model (people, planet, and profit), he argues that companies can reduce their environmental impact through digitization while meeting environmental standards. However, Puente warns about the side effects of the energy consumption involved in technology: “AI and data centers are increasing energy consumption, which forces us to think about truly sustainable digitization.”
TRAINING TO MANAGE CHANGE eUniv is designing the future executive course on digital transformation, an in-person program aimed at transferring knowledge to the business world. It will cover emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Industry 4.0, but the focus will be on “how they transform organizations and change management,” explains Puente, who is convinced that data usage will have the same impact on the production model as the Industrial Revolution once did.
The European University (eUniv) will host the “5 Steps to U.S. Study” conference for the second time at its headquarters in Sant Julià de Lòria on Thursday, November 14th at 5 p.m. The event is organized by the Institute of North American Studies in collaboration with FUERP.
The purpose of the event is to explain and help attendees understand the search process, how to finance their studies, and the application elements required to study in the United States.
EducationUSA is an official program of the U.S. Department of State; the Barcelona office at the Institute of North American Studies provides this service to students, schools, and families from Andorra. This in-person session will offer the opportunity to resolve all questions with the academic advisor from EducationUSA Barcelona.
On Tuesday, November 5, the Archbishop of Urgell, Monsignor Joan-Enric Vives, concluded his pastoral visit to the Andorran parishes at the headquarters of the European University, accompanied by Mn. Pepe Chisvert, Episcopal Delegate for Education and Rector of Sant Julià de Lòria, who is also Vice-Chancellor of eUniv. The prelate thus completed a pastoral program that is regularly organized every seven years, which also includes various educational institutions of the Principality.
This visit marked the Episcopal Co-Prince’s first visit to eUniv, where he was welcomed by the Rector, Dr. Antoni Noguero, accompanied by the Academic Protonotary and the University Manager, and in commemoration of the event, he was awarded the University’s Medal of Honor. During the meeting, the Co-Prince had the opportunity to tour the university campus, learn about the institutional and academic development of the University, and share perspectives with other members of the university community on various issues affecting education and the country.