On 9 and 10 July, UIC Barcelona hosted the first edition of the LINC Conference (Lead, Innovate, Connect), welcoming headteachers, academic coordinators and guidance counsellors from 24 schools across Spain, as well as Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The conference was created to strengthen the relationship between schools and universities by providing a forum for dialogue and reflection on the key challenges facing education today.

The LINC Conference reflects UIC Barcelona’s commitment to supporting schools beyond the university admissions process by fostering relationships based on trust, the exchange of experiences and the development of joint projects.

The programme, which included activities on both campuses, provided an opportunity to share UIC Barcelona’s educational project with the participating schools.

Humanising the transformation of society

The conference began with an address by the rector of UIC Barcelona, Dr Alfonso Méndiz, who presented the University’s mission and strategic vision: “At UIC Barcelona, we believe that education is transformative when it places the person at the centre. That is why our mission is to humanise the transformation of society.”

The Rector explained that this mission is rooted in the Christian humanism that inspires UIC Barcelona’s educational project and is reflected in three fundamental pillars: teaching excellence, research driven by the search for truth and a strong commitment to society. “We want to produce not only highly competent professionals but also individuals with a critical spirit, a service-oriented mindset and the ability to lead with values,” he remarked. He also singled out innovation, internationalisation and digital transformation as core challenges of the University’s ongoing work.

The conference addressed a range of topics, including purpose-driven leadership in schools and the role of the humanities in responding to global challenges and the demographic and geopolitical changes poised to shape the future of universities.

Day two, which took place on the Sant Cugat Campus, explored the role of innovation and cooperation between educational institutions as drivers of change.

UIC Barcelona’s general manager, Dr Josep Maria Torné, outlined the key features of the University’s educational model, characterised by active learning, close links with the professional world, state-of-the-art facilities – including laboratories and its three university clinics – and comprehensive support that places students at the centre throughout their time at the University.

During his address, Dr Torné said: “We want to be a strategic partner for your schools, building on your educational project and supporting your students and their families.”

The conference also featured Dr Román Pérez, vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, who shifted the focus to research and innovation as fundamental pillars of university development. He also emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between schools and universities to maximise their impact on the education of future students.

Meanwhile, Raquel Peula, director of Promotion and Admissions, presented the different initiatives led by her team to strengthen relationships with schools. The aim of these tasks, carried out both nationally and internationally, is to help students and their families make informed choices about their university future through personalised guidance tailored to each individual’s needs.

The conference concluded with a session on the importance of self-awareness and personal values in leadership, reinforcing a key message that ran throughout the two days: education is about developing not only highly competent professionals but also individuals capable of making a positive impact on society.

A forum for dialogue designed to endure

The LINC Conference was created to become a permanent forum for dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaboration, fostering synergies and contributing, through trust and open dialogue, to the ongoing development of an educational model centred on the individual and committed to serving society.