We stand for peace

UIC Barcelona believes firmly in peace, respect and coexistence as universal values. We condemn any expression of violence and we stand firm in our defence of the values of dialogue as the only way to find solutions to conflicts. We are a University of the people, an international community of around 8,000 students, home to 108 different nationalities, where everyone is welcome, free of discrimination of any kind. It is at times of suffering like this one that UIC Barcelona defends its values more than ever, with faith and hope as our greatest allies.

1. When the conflict broke out, UIC Barcelona activated the Solidarity Emergency Protocol.
2. The rector of UIC Barcelona, Dr Alfonso Méndiz, addressed the entire University Community on 25 February, expressing the need to value peace, respect and dialogue, which must be present in all human relationships.
3. UIC Barcelona joined Pope Francis' Day of Prayer for Peace on 2 March, alongside Russian and Ukrainian members of the university community.
4. A call for peace every Thursday throughout March. We will observe a minute’s silence in the name of peace (10, 17, 24 and 31 March), which will be held on both campuses.
5. We provide individual counselling to students from the Russian and Ukrainian community affected by the conflict, and to anyone else affected in general.
6. We offer psychological and spiritual support to all members of the community who seek it.
7. We have organised information sessions with teachers from UIC Barcelona to help understand the war in Ukraine.
8. We are launching solidarity initiatives.
9. Student Services (via the email address ucrania@uic.es) are answering all your concerns and proposals for initiatives.
10.  We provide information and documentation, if it is available.

On day one, the UIC Barcelona Department of Personal Development and Institutional Culture, responsible for the student guidance service, contacted Russian and Ukrainian students through their programme advisor, master's degree director or the Doctoral School. The University has 48 members of its community from these two countries.

The University has offered them emergency appointments at Support, the University Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic, free of charge. The students have also been offered guidance, taking into account their personal circumstances, as well as anyone else from the community seeking support. The University believes that this individual support is key to help mitigate the anxiety and loneliness that many may be experiencing.

The Clinic is also open to members of the general public, under the established conditions.

UIC Barcelona joined Pope Francis' Day of Prayer for Peace on 2 March, alongside Russian and Ukrainian members of the university community.

The UIC Up Armemos Lío student group is also promoting a day of prayer for peace, to be held on 10 March at 8 p.m. in the chapel of the Delta building at UIC Barcelona.

Pope Francis pray on 25 March an act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to ask for peace in these two nations, and in all the nations of the world. We will join Pope Francis' act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine.
At the Barcelona Campus at 9 a.m. The prayer of Consecration will be repeated at 12 p.m. in the Beta building chapel.
In the Sant Cugat Campus it will be around 10.10 a.m. You can follow the prayer online at this link.

We continue to pray for peace, and taking advantage of the first Friday of the month and the mass for young people (from 1.30 p.m. to 2 p.m.) on Friday, 1 April in the chapel of the Barcelona Campus (Beta building), we will have a Eucharistic adoration before the 2 p.m. mass.

During the month of March, on 10, 17, 24 and 31 March and 7 April, a minute's silence for peace will be held on both campuses: at 11 a.m. on the Sant Cugat Campus and at 12 noon on the Barcelona Campus.

Meeting point: At the end of Passeig de la Fontana (Barcelona Campus) and on the square outside the entrance to the Faculty of Education Sciences (Sant Cugat Campus).

"A call for peace is read aloud in the hope that our plea will be heard far and wide, bringing warmth and comfort to those who are suffering."

The minute of silence on Thursday, 10 March was declared by the Rector of UIC Barcelona, Dr. Alfonso Mendiz, at the Barcelona Campus, and by Dr. Lluis Giner, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, at the Sant Cugat Campus.

The minute's silence on Thursday 17 March was introduced by Student Council representatives, who read out the call for peace before the university community that joined this week. Oriol Vergés introduced the call on the Barcelona Campus and Mar Melero, on the Sant Cugat Campus.

Faced with the uncertainty generated by a situation like this, we believe it is important to choose the right sources of information and be informed by experts on these issues.

Round table with experts

“Keys to understanding the situation in Ukraine”

31 March 14:00 - Aula Jardí room

The series meetings will commence on Thursday 31 March with the round table titled “Keys to understanding the situation in Ukraine”. The session will be held in person in the Aula Jardí room on the Barcelona Campus, from 2 to 3.15 p.m. 

If you're interested in attending, please complete this registration form.

The round table will be introduced and moderated by Dr Montserrat Nebrera, lecturer in Constitutional Law at UIC Barcelona and current affairs analyst for several media outlets. She will be joined by the experts Dr Xavier Garí, Alfons Puga and Lluís Amiguet.

30-minute online talk

Dr Montserrat Nebrera, lecturer at the Faculty of Law at UIC Barcelona, gave a 30-minute online talk for all UIC Barcelona staff. The session is titled Understanding the war in Ukraine.

Join these initiatives or put forward new proposals.

If you have an idea in mind or want to ask questions, write to ucrania@uic.es. We will address your request and respond to your concern, proposal or suggestion.

Follow us on social media and stay up to date via the official UIC Barcelona communication channels.

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