General report of academic year 2024-25

This report reflects some of the University's most significant milestones of the last academic year. Not only is it impossible to include them all, it is also difficult to rank them by importance, because each one has its own meaning and its own purpose. Just a few of the accomplishments I'd like to highlight include the launch of the Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation and the initiation of our internationalisation plan. We also set in motion an ambitious strategic infrastructure plan with an investment of over 17 million euros, and we took steps to further the future relocation of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. We climbed positions in some of the most prestigious rankings, and we approved the revision of our University Statutes, among many other achievements.

But rather than listing milestones – some of which are compiled in this report – I want to turn the spotlight on what lies behind every one of these accomplishments, what has made them possible: people, our University's core value. And it's for this reason that the 2024-25 academic year also focused on supporting and strengthening this human capital. There's still a lot of work to be done, but with a 10% increase in full-time teaching staff (68 places through the María Goyri programme), we're off to a good start – a start that's made even stronger by a clearer route towards promotions for full professors and an improved induction plan for new lecturers.

In addition, new technical, management, administrative and service staff (PTGAS) positions were created, and a plan for the onboarding and training of management staff was implemented. We initiated a strategy to address the generational handover of the PTGAS and we introduced a productivity bonus, in addition to promoting wellness and health programmes for the entire URV community. And the list goes on. Without people, there is no University. Valuing their work and dedication guarantees the University's recognition, prestige and a global impact.

Josep Pallarès Marzal
Rector of Rovira i Virgili University