Workshop with the Ramon Llull University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Europe

Thursday, 12 March 2015. The Ramon Llull University (URL) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) of Australia met this morning in the rectory of the URL to identify common ground in the field of research, teaching and mobility and to put these elements together in the form of an action plan.

The RMIT is a very prestigious Australian university set up in the 19th Century and is renowned for its large size: it has 90,000 students in Australia alone, but also has branches worldwide; specifically, its European antenna is located in Barcelona. However, the RMIT is known for its active research and its close relationship with the industrial world.

The objective of this workshop was to analyse common ground for a possible collaboration. Three such areas were identified during the meeting:

1. Commitment to placements in industry so that students can put what they have learned into practice in a real working environment.
2. Trans-disciplinary research, understood as research approached from various disciplines, which can be applied to the needs of organisations.
3. Commitment to society and university social responsibility

Thanks to these similarities, both universities have decided to seek avenues of collaboration that will be specified in the coming months. A framework partnership agreement will be signed in the near future to begin work on an action plan.

The members of the URL Rector Team spoke first at the workshop. Josep Maria Garrell, Rector of the URL, presented the University and set out the objectives of the meeting. Carlo Gallucci, the URL's Vice Rector of International and Student Relations, talked about the international business and cultural life of the University. Lluís Comellas, the URL's Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, focused his talk on the University's research activity and Jordi Riera, URL Deputy Chancellor for Academic Policy, specified which postgraduate programmes they could work together on.

Then the RMIT team, comprising Professor Colin Fudge, President of RMIT Europe and vice president of the RMIT University, and Dr. Esther Parra, advisor for International Research Development, presented the possible avenues for academic and research as well as specific areas of cooperation, and discussed and identified priority areas for working together, while developing an action plan.

Mireia Castanys, Director of the Rector's Office, Laia Ros, Director of Research at the URL, and Gemma López, from the URL Vice President's office for Research and Innovation, also addressed the meeting.

More information:
Anna Tosca
Head of Press Office and Social Networks
Ramon Llull University
Tel. 936 022 228 | 692 671 597
atosca@rectorat.url.edu | twitter.com/uramonllull