First Conference on University Rankings at the UPC (8 June 2016)

9.30 a.m.

Welcome speech by Enric Fossas, rector of the UPC

Block 1: University rankings from an institutional perspective

Moderator: Jordi Ros, director of the Barcelona School of Architecture

9.40 a.m.

The UPC in the main university rankings, by Antoni Ras, vice-rector for University Policy

10.00 a.m.

Visibility of the UPC’s International reach and research, by Lourdes Reig, vice-rector for International Relations, and Fernando Orejas, vice-rector for Research at the UPC

10.20 a.m.

Q&A session

Block 2:  University rankings and assessment of institutions: an open debate

Moderator: Antoni Ras, vice-rector for University Policy

10.45 a.m.

Rankings, scientific impact and university systems, by Francesc Xavier Grau, director of the Chair for University and Knowledge Region and former rector of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili 

11.15 a.m.

Presentation of the main conclusions of the seminar “12 Years with Global University Rankings - A Panoramic (Re)view and an Update on Recent Developments” held in Brussels on 15 October 2015, by Francesc Torres, director of the Department of Signal Theory and Communications

11.30 a.m.

Q&A session

   11.50 a.m.                                                 Coffee break (20 min)

Block 3: Tools and resources for analysing, communicating and improving university rankings

Moderator: Antonio Gens, a full professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

12.15 p.m.

Presentation of the main actions to improve the UPC’s position in university rankings, by Santi Roca, director of the Planning, Quality and Cross-Disciplinary Programmes Area

Presentations on: 1) the Rankings Observatory, by Mercè Grau, from the Planning, Assessment and Quality Bureau; 2) tools and resources for academic publishing and editing, by Anna Rovira, from the Libraries, Publications and Archives Service; and 3) the positioning of the UPC websites, by Sara Pérez, from the Communication Service

12.45 p.m.

Presentation of the TSC-metrics tool, by Francesc Torres, director of the Department of Signal Theory and Communications

1.05 p.m.

Q&A session

1.25 p.m.

Closing speech by Antoni Ras, vice-rector for University Policy at the UPC