26 March 2024
Research at the UOC: unpacking the ‘why’
In December 2023, the Vice President’s Office for Research, Transfer and Entrepreneurship of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) entrusted us with a difficult but vital task: to design a participative session that would help UOC research staff to reflect on the major challenges behind their work. The day culminated in the formulation of a set of missions that addressed the main challenges facing our society through an interdisciplinary research lens.
Last December, the UOC informed us of its desire to rethink the University’s research narrative in order to better align itself with the current needs of society. To this end, it commissioned us to carry out a strategic action that would include two key elements: (a) an event with all its main research staff to define the UOC’s new research missions based on participatory dynamics; (b) a prior analysis of the areas in which the UOC’s current R&I has the greatest impact, based on the results obtained in a survey. The conclusions of this analysis were transferred to a series of infographics, including the one below, and served as a starting point for those attending the event.
The workshop, which took place in one morning, promoted reflection and gathered the opinions of researchers from multiple angles and dynamics. From participatory murals and sessions with Design Thinking methodologies, to dialogues with key actors in the financing of Catalan and European R&D&I. The result: a set of missions that address today’s major societal challenge through a lens of interdisciplinary research, while taking into account digital, technological and humanistic dimensions.
Photo credits: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) // Jornada: “Les missions de R+I de la UOC” (Flickr)
The strategic team of Ubik Media, Eva Loste and Sílvia Bravo, during the participative sesison. Photo credits: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) // Jornada: “Les missions de R+I de la UOC” (Flickr)
We would like to thank Álex Hinojo for his excellent skills as a facilitator and timekeeper; Xavi Vilajosana, Vice-rector for Research, Transfer and Entrepreneurship for his invaluable strategic supervision and Josep Grau for his faithful accompaniment. At UbiK, we’re inspired and honoured to work with the UOC research team who are striving to make our world a better place.
Cover photo credits: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) // Jornada: “Les missions de R+I de la UOC” (Flickr)
