The two winning teams of the 2025 edition of the Student Academic Conference (SAC), held on 1 March at UIC Barcelona, recently travelled to Belgium to take part in an academic and cultural visit focused on the European Union and European heritage. The trip took place in Brussels, Ghent and Bruges, and combined institutional visits with educational cultural activities.
The six participating students are enrolled in various degree programmes, including Bioengineering, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine and Humanities. They were accompanied by Marta Crispí Cantón, lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, and Patricia Vázquez-Dodero Rodríguez, manager of the University’s Mentoring Project. The aim of the trip was to strengthen interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking and holistic education through direct experience.
During the visit, the students toured the European Parliament. They also learned about the work of civil society organisations that engage with the EU and the United Nations, such as the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE).
On the cultural side, the group had the opportunity to discover key works in the history of European art, including the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck at Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, the Oldmasters Museum in Brussels, and the historic centre of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The participating students were members of the two winning teams of SAC 2025: “Adapting to adversity: understanding the aftermath of the DANA disaster”, formed by Eimy Restituyo (Bioengineering), Anna Rodríguez (Biomedical Sciences) and Oliver Tohidi (Medicine); and
“Cultural renewal through art for a culture of peace”, with Enrique Muñoz and Alexandre Buñesch (both from Humanities). Ania Verdugo, Humanities student and member of one of the runner-up teams, also joined the group.
“These kinds of activities promote academic dialogue, foster critical thinking and offer a human and transformative perspective that goes beyond the classroom,” said the SAC director, Dr Mònica Argemí Ballbè.
Through this trip, UIC Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence and the holistic development of students through meaningful and interdisciplinary experiences.
