The Board of Trustees (Patronat) is the maximum authority representing, governing and administering the Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Foundation for the Open University of Catalonia, FUOC), in accordance with Article 14 of the Statutes.
The FUOC Board of Trustees’ main functions are:
- To approve and, where necessary, modify the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC) organisational and operational regulations.
- To appoint and dismiss the Rector and the General Manager.
- To approve the University’s budget and accounts.
- To approve the action plan presented by the Rector and evaluate the results.
The UOC Rector and FUOC General Manager attend the meetings of the Board of Trustees, in an advisory role.
Members of the Board of Trustees
Mr Pere Vallès, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
He holds bachelor's degrees in Economic Sciences and Law from the University of Barcelona. He is currently CEO of Exoticca, an organization that promotes the digital transformation of the tourism sector. He is an entrepreneur and investor with more than 20 years' experience leading technology companies.
Mr Joaquim Nadal, Minister of Research and Universities, representing the Government of Catalonia.
He has a PhD in History from the University of Barcelona and is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Girona and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He has held various political and academic positions, having been a member of the Parliament of Catalonia and mayor of Girona.
Ms Anna Simó, Minister of Education, representing the Government of Catalonia.
She has a bachelor's degree in Catalan and a postgraduate qualification in Language Planning from the University of Barcelona. With an extensive career in politics, she was appointed Minister of Social Welfare and Family Affairs, being the youngest politician and the first woman in the party to hold this position.
Mr Joaquim Nin, General Secretary of the Ministry of Research and Universities, representing the Government of Catalonia.
He holds a diploma in Labour Relations from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, a qualification as Occupational Health and Safety specialist from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and a diploma in Politics and Government from Pompeu Fabra University, the University of Barcelona and ESADE. He has been vice-president of the Tarragona Provincial Council and a Government of Catalonia delegate in Tarragona.
Ms Maria Victòria Girona, Director General of Universities, representing the Government of Catalonia.
She is Professor of Physics-Chemistry and holds a doctoral degree in Pharmacy from the University of Barcelona. She has held the positions of associate dean, dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Vice Rector for Teaching Staff and member of the Board of Trustees. She has been the driving force behind the teaching innovation groups in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Barcelona.
Ms Liliana Arroyo, Director General of Digital Society for the Ministry of Business and Labour, representing the Government of Catalonia.
Holder of a doctoral degree in Sociology from the University of Barcelona. She is an expert in digital transformation and social impact. She has worked at the i2cat Foundation as Innovation Manager in the Digital Technology Societies area, and as a lecturer and researcher at the ESADE Institute for Social Innovation.
Mr Pep Garcia, executive committee member of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, representing the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from the University of Barcelona and an MBA from IESE Business School. He is CEO and founder of Maxchief Europe, vice president of the Foundation for Creativation, and also acts as a mentor to young entrepreneurs in various programmes promoting entrepreneurship.
Ms Teresa Cabré, representing the Institute for Catalan Studies.
Catalan linguist and philologist, professor of Linguistics and Terminology at Pompeu Fabra University, founder of TERMCAT and IULA. She is president of the Supervisory Council of TERMCAT and has received accolades such as the Narcís Monturiol Medal and the Cross of Sant Jordi.
Ms Helena Guardans, independent trustee. Non-executive president of Webhelp Spain.
Bachelor's degree and MBA from ESADE with a master's degree in Business Administration from New York University. She is non-executive president of Sellbytel Group Spain and has held positions as an independent director at Catalunya Banc, assistant general manager at Grey Spain and account manager at Vizeversa.
Mr Miquel Martí, independent trustee. CEO of Barcelona Tech City.
He graduated as an industrial engineer at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, holds an MBA from ESADE and has undertaken training in Team Management. Currently he is CEO of Barcelona Tech City, where he has led the development of Pier01 as a leading technology hub in Europe. Previously, he was director of the International Center for Scientific Debate at Biocat and held various positions at AIDIT and Mimaven Eléctrica.
Mr Josep M. Coronas, independent trustee. He is a partner in Coronas Advocats.
With bachelor's degrees in Economics and Law, he is a State lawyer and has held positions as general secretary of Abertis, secretary of the Regional Economic Administrative Court of Catalonia, director general of the Legal Office of the Government of Catalonia's Ministry of Economy and Finance, and is a member of several boards of trustees.
Mr Pere Fabra, general secretary of the UOC. He serves as secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Pere Fabra has been lecturer in Philosophy and Theory of Law in the Law and Political Science Department at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya since 1997. He has a doctorate in Law from Pompeu Fabra University and degrees in Law and Philosophy from the University of Barcelona. Before joining the UOC, he worked as a lawyer specializing in administrative law. He has carried out research at J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, and been a visiting scholar in the Department of Philosophy at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.