From 26 to 30 July, the Barcelona Campus of Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) hosted the inaugural edition of “The Logic of the Gift”, a university conference that brought together around 130 students from universities across Spain to reflect on the major issues affecting people and the world around them.

Over five days, the conference provided a space for students, teaching staff and experts from a range of fields to come together, with the aim of fostering dialogue and interdisciplinary reflection on the human person, society and the world around us. Under the theme “contemplate, dialogue and transcend”, the initiative urged participants to pause, question and share perspectives on the challenges facing today’s world.

The academic programme included morning lectures and sessions exploring cultural, anthropological, bioethical, artistic and social issues, among other disciplines. The conference featured speakers such as Higinio Marín, Albert Moya, José Manuel Almuzara, Pep Borrell, Ousman Umar, Loreto Gala and Lluís Gràcia, as well as lecturers and experts from a range of fields, who enriched the debate through their diverse experiences and perspectives.

One of the conference days was hosted by the IESE Business School, giving participants the opportunity to experience another university setting and further explore the issues addressed during the event. The day featured numerous sessions, including contributions from Montserrat Nebrera, David Fillat and Jaume Civit.

In addition to the academic sessions, the afternoons were devoted to practical and experience-based activities. Students had the opportunity to choose from an array of workshops, visits to socially responsible companies, volunteering activities and cultural tours. These activities included a wide range of visits, from the Palau de la Música (Mahler’s Symphony No. 2) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center to the Arrels Foundation and a calligraphy workshop. They complemented the academic programme delivered in the mornings and encouraged experience-based learning through engagement with different social and professional settings.

A university gathering with a long-term vision

The inaugural edition of “The Logic of the Gift” marks the beginning of what organisers hope will be an annual university gathering, with the aim of establishing the conference as a lasting initiative. The aim is to continue to bring together students, teaching staff and experts from a range of fields to foster reflection, dialogue and the holistic development of the human person.

The initiative is possible thanks to the dedication of an interdisciplinary team of professionals from different institutions. The academic direction of the conference was overseen by Andrea Rodríguez, director of UIC’s Institute for Culture and Thought, while Elisabet Bosch, from UIC’s Mentoring and Personal Development Service, coordinated the organisational aspects. Event organisation was also supported by professionals from Universidad Villanueva, together with two foundations: Esycu Foundation and Fase Foundation.

Through this initiative, UIC reaffirms its commitment to providing a university education that goes beyond the strictly academic sphere, fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary dialogue and a deeper understanding of the human person and the challenges of contemporary society.