At the heart of the Government’s decision was UIC’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences transformative, interdisciplinary and transferable approach to healthcare, developed over more than 10 years of clinical simulation experience, reflected in the Comprehensive Centre for Advanced Simulation (CISA) at the Sant Cugat Campus, combining advanced technology with experience-based and reflective learning. The distinction also highlights the Centre’s commitment to prioritising the humanisation of healthcare, empathy and patient safety, while fostering key competencies such as critical thinking, decision-making and the ability to manage uncertainty.

Spanning over 1,000 square metres on the Sant Cugat Campus, CISA is one of Spain’s pioneering centres for replicating real-life clinical environments, enabling students to manage healthcare situations of varying levels of complexity in a safe, innovative and participatory setting. CISA recreates operating theatres, intensive care units, primary care consultation rooms, hospital wards, paediatric units and multipurpose spaces in meticulous detail, giving students the opportunity to experience scenarios ranging from routine clinical care to critical emergencies, thanks to techniques such as moulage to replicate wounds. In addition, virtual and augmented reality systems are used to broaden the training opportunities available for specific procedures and clinical scenarios.

Since its creation, CISA has become a hub for teaching innovation, enabling students in Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Psychology at the Faculty to develop not only technical skills but also essential competencies for healthcare practice, including communication, empathy and team leadership in high-pressure situations.

Recognition of the innovative teaching model in clinical simulation

The Jaume Vicens Vives Award comes with €20,000 in funding to be allocated to teaching innovation and improvement projects. Established in 1996, these awards recognise excellence in university education and initiatives that contribute to the innovation and enhancement of teaching at Catalan universities.

The rector, Alfonso Méndiz, received the award on behalf of the UIC during the formal opening ceremony of the Catalan academic year, which took place on 2 October at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).