Joan Guàrdia i Olmos: teaching at the heart of Europe

Every honorary doctorate ceremony is unique. The one for Joan Guàrdia i Olmos, rector of the University of Barcelona, is no exception. If only because the Catalan researcher's sponsor is none other than Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier. In the prestigious setting of the auditorium of the historic Faculty of Medicine building, he declared that this symbolic and meaningful distinction was being awarded to his Spanish counterpart "as an academic, a visionary, and an institution leader with a unique vision of openness towards other European countries and the world."

A distinguished researcher

As an academic, Joan Guàrdia i Olmo has built up an impressive academic background dedicated to understanding the complexity of the human mind. A native of Barcelona, he graduated with honors with a degree in philosophy and education sciences (psychology section) from the University of Barcelona in 1985, before going on to obtain a doctorate in the same field the following year. In 1987, he began teaching as a professor of behavioral science methodology at the Faculty of Psychology and in various other faculties at the University of Barcelona. He also gives lectures around the world on topics ranging from neuroscience research to the analysis of psychosocial risks.

"You have had a remarkable career as a researcher, with more than 30 books published and over 250 articles to your credit. You have led more than 25 outstanding research projects, both nationally and internationally, and contributed to more than 40 knowledge transfer and innovation agreements," said Philippe Augé in his laudatory speech.A member of two major research institutes at the University of Barcelona, the Institute of Neuroscience (UBneuro) and the Institute for Complex Systems (UBICS), Joan Guàrdia supervises numerous doctoral theses and leads a research group on quantitative psychology. "Your contributions to structural equation modeling in psychology have marked a significant turning point in our understanding of models for predicting social anxiety," added the president of the University of Montpellier.

Close ties between Montpellier and Barcelona

At the same time, the Catalan researcher has been heavily involved in the management of the University of Barcelona. He served as dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters before being elected rector in December 2020, then recently re-elected on December 5, 2023, for a six-year term. This responsibility at the head of the University of Barcelona has made him a privileged partner of the University of Montpellier, as the two cities have had close ties for many years, notably due to a twinning arrangement dating back to 1963. The fruitful relationship between the two higher education institutions is rich in collaborations. François Pierrot, Vice President for International Relations at the University of Montpellier, highlights commonalities, including a commitment to "excellent research that contributes greatly to their international visibility" and a concern for "the impact of their work on global sustainable development issues."

A rich academic collaboration marked by landmark agreements such as the inter-university framework agreement signed between the University of Barcelona, the University of Montpellier, and Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University in 2015, and the institutional framework agreement on the scope of the I-site signed in 2017, which was officially renewed at the end of the honorary doctorate ceremony. A dual master's degree in water sciences was also launched in 2023.

An opening to Europe

But one of the major joint projects led by the University of Barcelona and the University of Montpellier remains the CHARM-EU consortium, in which Joan Guàrdia has played a key role. "Through your strategic vision, unparalleled leadership, and ability to rally other prominent leaders from member institutions within the alliance, you have been able to generate powerful political momentum at the highest level and initiate fundamental change ," notes Philippe Augé.

Gilles Subra, CHARM-EU project manager at the University of Montpellier, returns to this point: "Working with five nationalities, and now eight, is not easy. But the UB's approach is based on transparency, respect for everyone's opinion, and a willingness to always reach compromise through discussion. I believe that this approach is perfectly embodied by its president, Joan Guardia."

A shared academic future

In a speech delivered entirely in French, the rector of the University of Barcelona spoke about the challenges facing Europe in the fields of education and research, and the need to build a common academic future despite the many obstacles to be overcome."The concept of a European university inevitably involves change, shared paths, coordination above individual strategy, and honest collaboration," he said . While acknowledging the progress made, he added: "During these eight years of working with European alliances, an indisputable reality has been built. Proof that a wind of Mediterranean fraternity with a European flavor continues to blow over Montpellier.