The University signs a framework agreement for universities with Eusko Ikaskuntza

The University of Navarra is a signatory of a framework agreement with Eusko Ikaskuntza and 7 universities from the Basque Country, Navarra and Ipar Euskal Herria.  At the event in the presence of the Mayor of Bilboa Juan Mari Aburto and the president of Eusko lkaskuntza, Ana Urkiza Ibaibarriaga, the President, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero spoke.

Also present were Ramón Gonzalo, President of the Public University of Navarra; Eva Ferreira García, President of the University of the Basque Country; José María Guibert, President of the University of Deusto; Vicente Atxa, President of Mondragon Unibertsitatea; Ricardo Mairal Usón, President of the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; and Ernesto Expósito, vice president for International Relations of the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour.

The new agreement aspires to build collaboration in development of knowledge with special focus on the Basque language and culture. Eusko Ikaskuntza and the seven universities express their willingness to promote talent and to share everything that contributes to this goal. Among other activities, it establishes the definition and strategic reflection on the common and shared elements in the respective territories in the 21st century, the completion of a study on the notoriety of Eusko Ikaskuntza and the offer of student internships. In addition, the participation of these universities in the evaluation jury of the Eusko Ikaskuntza-Laboral Kutxa awards for scientific excellence will be continued.

Public-private collaboration

In their speeches, the university representatives highlighted the potential of the agreement to "transform society through the comprehensive training of people and the creation and transfer of knowledge". The President of the University of Navarra, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, expressed his satisfaction with this agreement that joins these universities and expresses the University's mission, which is none other than "serving society through research, teaching and the dissemination of knowledge".  He also stressed that a university has to be rooted in its culture but with a universal mentality: "That is why we are very local but with an international vocation," he said.

The Presidents agreed on the necessity for new forms of collaboration and to use the added value of the confluence of both public and private universities in this project.  Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero stressed the importance of this collaboration and thanked Eusko Ikaskuntza for promoting this network of contacts that "helps to get to know the different points of view and enrich the intellectual debate".