Javier Lafuente: "an inclusive, diverse, cooperative, transformative, open and global UAB, a model for our citizens"

Javier Lafuente, professor of Chemical Engineering, took office as rector of the UAB, for which he was re-elected in these past elections, in an institutional ceremony that took place on 21 November in the conference hall of the Rectorat building. The event include the participation of Minister for Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia Núria Montserrat, and President of the Social Council of the UAB Tania Nadal, in addition to the presence of many members of the university community.

In his investiture speech, Javier Lafuente made a call to continue working hard to make the UAB “an inclusive, diverse, cooperative, transformative, open, global institution that is a model for our citizens”, a university where all people “feel safe and at ease”.

The rector had a heartfelt remembrance for the victims of the rainfall and flash floods that devastated Valencia three weeks ago and announced that “the UAB has made itself available to the Valencian universities for the reconstruction with initiatives that will be managed by the FAS”.

Rector Lafuente began his speech by thanking the university community for the trust placed in his team's project to continue leading and directing the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He also remembered all the people who have accompanied him on his life's journey: family, friends, teaching and research colleagues, and colleagues from the government teams that, first as vice-rector and since 2020 as rector, have accompanied him: “With a special memory for our colleague Pep Vendrell; Pep we will never forget you”.

Addressing the Minister, Rector Lafuente recalled that four years have passed since the previous investiture speech: “different governments in the country, we already have the LOSU, the Law of Science, but in the aspects concerning the new model of university funding, we are still where we were four years ago”, assuring that to address “with guarantees the challenges ahead we have to build a new model of university management”.

He also addressed the university community to encourage them to participate in the future of the University: “your ideas, concerns and proposals are essential to help us continue building an even stronger and more cutting-edge university, always with an open and constructive dialogue”.

The rector ended his speech by expressing his concern about a geopolitical situation “that does not lead to optimism, but it is precisely in these times of infoxication, of fake news, when we at the university must raise our hand and offer the light we can bring from knowledge and science”. And recalling conflicts such as those in Ukraine or the Middle East, he stated that “we must not tire of defending peaceful, negotiated and fair solutions to conflicts. We cannot look the other way. The future of the planet literally depends on it."

Minister for Research and Universities Núria Montserrat, and President of the UAB Social Council Tània Nadal, congratulated the rector on his appointment.

President Nadal said that “if we do not want to miss the train of economic and social development of the country it is necessary that society and governments show their commitment to the university”.

Minister Montserrat praised the experience of Rector Lafuente, an “authentic and close leader who unites local knowledge with an international perspective” and who carries “the vocation for quality education in all areas in a coherent way, both professionally and personally”.

Rector for a six-year term

Javier Lafuente Sancho, who won the elections for rector of the UAB on 7 November in the second round, will be rector for the next six years accompanied by the following Governing team. 

He is Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where he joined as an assistant lecturer in 1984. He began teaching at the Faculty of Science and later went on to teach at the School of Engineering. He has six state research periods and one state transfer period, seven regional teaching and four management periods. In the previous elections in 2020, he was elected rector of the UAB.