Philosophy and values

Welcome to the project of your life. UIC Barcelona is the ideal place for carrying it out. Since 1997, we have been developing people based on academic rigour, university life and enriching life experiences.

Christian humanism inspires us to search for truth and to fully develop each individual project. We provide the opportunity to study in one of the world's most vibrant cities, which is part of our identity. 

Our university has around 8.000 students. Gain access to 16 degree programmes, 8 double degrees, around thirty double international degrees and a wide range of master’s and postgraduate degrees and continuing education courses in the field of knowledge you seek. 

We place each student at the centre and turn them into the key players at UIC Barcelona. That is our commitment to them. To you. We respond by providing individual attention, small class sizes, a close relationship with the teaching body, support services and everything you need to maximise your skills. 

Each university is different, and the way we do things is what sets us apart: personal attention, a comprehensive approach to each student, continuous links to the professional world and innovative teaching and research methods. We have signed agreements with over 50 companies and institutions, which trust in the centres, chairs and institutes at UIC Barcelona.

We are connected to society and to companies. Our teaching is practical in nature. It is imparted by teachers who are also active professionals and is complemented by a work placement programme that will help give you your first work experience. As a result, UIC Barcelona has the best graduate employment rate in the Catalan university system year after year.

In addition to knowledge, research and knowledge transfer, we invest time and effort in learning so that we might change the world. You will see this ambition in the people and activities at UIC Barcelona. It is part of our DNA.

1. The Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona), a private university in accordance with current legislation, is a private foundation with its own legal personality and is registered as a non-profit institution. The University  aims to offer a service to society through education and scientific research aimed at providing the skills required for the workplace, as well as a scientific, cultural and human education for students. The University also aims to carry out activities that encourage culture. The current ideology includes the basic tenets of the institution's founding spirit, which should be the driving force behind University life.

2. The main functions of UIC Barcelona are as follows:

a) teaching classes for a range of university courses, allowing students to obtain academic degrees and qualifications officially recognised by the Spanish government, as well as qualifications specific to the University.

b) providing an education to update knowledge,

c) carrying out scientific research in various fields of knowledge, thereby contributing to an increase in human knowledge and scientific and technological progress, encouraging high-quality teaching and an involvement in training for young researchers.

d) organising activities involving in-person teaching, studying or advice, research into specific problems and so on, that address human needs in the fields of knowledge offered by the University, as a way of establishing an effective dialogue with society.

e) contributing to the spiritual and cultural development of the university community and its social environment by organising a range of cultural activities and encouraging culture to be shared.

3. In all of its functions and activities, the University aims to be loyal to the truth and provide humankind and society with the best possible service. In pursuit of these objectives, the University aims to offer an atmosphere for study and work that is of the highest possible quality, inspired by a Christian way of living, and an openness to all.

4. The University believes that the Christian vision of humankind and reality constitutes an essential foundation of human knowledge. This foundation is not a limitation and, on the contrary, helps and strengthens a rigorous search for scientific truth. Consequently, those who work at the University are asked to be respectful of the truths and values offered by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in their university work, and to find inspiration in them.

5. A love of the truth and intellectual rigour must be present in teaching, research and life in the University. Teachers have to present the truth of their own university discipline objectively, without giving opinions as fact. Research must use rigorous methods to achieve an acceptable degree of certainty in results, and these results should be interpreted objectively and be free of the influence of preconceived hypotheses. Personal relationships in all sectors of the university must be sincere and truthful.

6. In order for the University to be able to provide a proper service, it is essential for all those who make up the university community, and for those who are involved in the university work, to have the highest opinion of the dignity of humankind, and the utmost respect for human rights. This will allow the University to help prepare students for a responsible social coexistence.

7. The University declares and guarantees freedom to academic staff and research freedom. A good understanding of these freedoms is accompanied by a respect for the truth and for the dignity of people, the ideology of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, and the fulfilment of contractual obligations.

8. The University has a universal spirit that is open to all kinds of people, without discrimination on the grounds of religion, nationality, social background, geographic origin, sex, race, ideology, or any other reason, and cultivates a wide range of knowledge. The University respects the freedom of conscience and legitimate differences of opinion between members of the university community. In turn, it expects them to respect and work with the basic tenets of the institution's ideology.

9. The University is autonomous under the law, and is governed by its Organisation and Running Guidelines, and its Regulations. It is up to the governing bodies, appointed in accordance with the aforementioned guidelines and subject to the same, to choose and hire teachers and other University staff, to establish research programmes, draw up study plans, decide on student admission and deal with different aspects related to financial management.

10. While carrying out their tasks, all the governing bodies of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya abide by the principles of collegiality, and encourage the effective and responsible participation of members of the university community via the channels established in the Statutes and Regulations.

11 . The University must be the result of loyal cooperation between everyone, in the pursuit of the commonly held interests of the institution. Individual or sectoral interests must be subordinate to general interests. Those who work at the University require moral unity to give the institution the internal consistency needed to fulfil its mission.

Notwithstanding any legitimate complaints and the channels established to appeal any decisions, the governing measures adopted by Law must be followed closely.

12. The development and growing complexity of knowledge, as well as the intellectual and methodological limitations of any university, often require both teamwork and an interdisciplinary approach to issues. For this reason, academic staff must be willing to work together to achieve common interests, and other departments and academic faculties should not be closed in themselves. They should be open to scientific dialogue with others and should participate whenever necessary in teaching tasks for different degrees.

13. The common work of all as a whole towards achieving common corporate and social responsibility goals, which involves making the best possible use of available economic resources, requires using the media and the general resources in each academic faculty to be shared in a spirit of solidarity with those from other faculties who need these resources; likewise the allocation and distribution of the use of the premises has to fit the needs of all.

14. The University's task is understood as a combination of the individual activities of members of the university, academic staff, administrative and service staff, and students, who commit to carrying out common service tasks with a sense of shared responsibility. On joining, each person agrees to comply with the obligations inherent to their position, to exercise the rights that correspond to each person within the University and to respect, and where possible facilitate, the work of others.

15. The University is convinced of the importance of work, as a means of personal development, as a way to contribute to the proper use of natural resources and human progress, as a way to participate positively in shaping and consolidating the fabric of society, and as a way of establishing solidarity and service to others. Consequently, the University hopes that, by working together, we can create a hard-working environment. Everyone should work with a fighting spirit and strive to perform better, and to come as close to human perfection as possible. The University believes that loving work is a fundamental element of its educational activities.

16. High quality university activity also requires a desire to excel at work. Academic staff must try to offer up-to-date education, in which they make use of the most suitable teaching methods, carrying out rigorous and advanced scientific research on topics that may provide valuable original contributions to society. Students should show interest, pay attention and be dedicated to their studies, so that they reach the highest levels of education possible for their abilities and personal skills. They must all work as hard as possible on tasks related to the University.

17. Education presupposes a personal relationship between teachers and students, and an active participation with each other in the education process. For this reason, the University offers personalised teaching, with a suitable ratio between lecturers and students. Academic staff should dedicate a generous amount of time to individual academic counselling for students, so that they reach their full potential. Relations between teachers and students should be open, easy and friendly, marked by fairness and with the aim of achieving the best for the student.

18. A love of freedom and education within personal responsibility should inspire university life. The University respects the freedom of each individual, while encouraging a responsible use of this freedom; it encourages free initiative as a way reach personal enrichment, and as a valuable contribution to the general good. All of this should come within an atmosphere of mutual trust that is free of coercive measures. The teaching methodology includes educational assessment systems that allows students to see how well they are doing. Similarly, everyone will have sufficient means of self-control with regard to completing personal tasks effectively, so that they can improve through responsibility and initiative.

19. As part of its educational tasks, the University aims to encourage the overall development of each individual, in every aspect. It aims to provide competitive and high-quality preparation for the working world, while at the same time seeking to improve human, cultural and spiritual education, and ensuring students are in good physical condition. In every aspect, the university promotes a spirit of service to others, solidarity and camaraderie.

20. To better achieve its educational goals, the University teaches classes that integrate different aspects of the curriculum, in addition to promoting a range of cultural, artistic and sports activities, etc., as well as other activities involving participation and solidarity. Students may participate freely, according to their preferences and inclinations.

21 . The University community involves people of different religious beliefs, political and ideological tendencies, and who hold a wide range of opinions. In an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, trust and friendship, the University stimulates critical thought and freely formed personal opinions, and encourages students to be nourish their interest in knowledge and to study the issues facing society. It should be understood, however, that the University is not the place to defend specific political positions, nor is it a place for partisan struggle, which can find appropriate channels in other social institutions. The University prepares students for an effective and peaceful coexistence among others, promoting the general good of society, within a real plurality of opinions.

22. Convinced of the high importance that religion has on the human personality, the University offers teachings in Ethics and Theology to all its members. This makes it possible to discover Catholic doctrine in harmony with the chosen university education. It also offers several options for spiritual care, which can be used as and when required. At the request of the University Board of Trustees, the Prelature of the Opus Dei will be in charge of the pastoral care of the university community, appointing priests, and hiring and training Theology teachers.

23. The University will make decisions, where possible, and whether directly or through other partner institutions, on the various forms of financial aid offered to students. This means that those with given levels of intellectual ability, who have the necessary academic skills and who do not have sufficient financial resources can pursue their higher studies at the University. This fulfils an important aspect of our duty of service to society, encouraging social mobility and showing solidarity.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 31 January 2006