The 2 candidacies that want to lead the URV for the next 6 years in Tarragona
The rector elections at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) are approaching with a clear battle between two candidates who aspire to shape the academic future of the institution over the next six years. This renewal promises to be historic for Tarragona.
On May 8, the Electoral Board definitively proclaimed Josep Pallarès Marzal and Domènec Puig Valls as the two official candidates. The electronic voting will take place from May 25 to 27, and the campaign will start on the 11th. All under the novedades of the 2023 Organic Law of the University System (LOSU).
The candidates vying for URV leadership
Josep Pallarès Marzal: the rector who wants to continue
Josep Pallarès Marzal, born in El Perelló in 1967, has governed URV since 2022 and aims to repeat his mandate. Full professor of Electronic Technology and PhD from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, he has left a mark in Tarragona since 1991. His research in semiconductor devices and photonic systems has been internationally recognized, with more than one hundred publications and led European projects.
Furthermore, his managerial experience is no small matter: he has been Director General of Universities in the Generalitat and has held various positions at URV, a trajectory that places him as the strongman of this electoral process.
Domènec Puig Valls: the rival with more than 30 years at the university
Domènec Puig Valls, full professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Mathematics, is no newcomer. Trained at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, he has been a heavyweight at URV since 1992. He has led more than 100 research projects and is co-founder of two spin-off companies linked to the university.
His background in robotics, computer vision, and machine learning gives him an innovative profile, complemented by his experience as Vice-Rector of Teaching and author of more than 200 scientific publications. Tarragona knows him well, and he now seeks the highest academic position.
The electoral process at URV: how and when to vote
Schedule and novedades of the process
The electoral campaign starts on Monday, May 11 and will last until midnight on May 24. Voting will be carried out electronically between May 25 and 27, facilitating participation of teaching, research, and administrative staff at URV.
An important novelty is that, according to the LOSU approved in 2023, the winner may only serve a six-year term, with no options for re-election or extension. This marks a before and after compared to previous elections in Tarragona.
How does the vote affect the university community of Tarragona?
URV, with its main headquarters in Tarragona, is one of the academic and economic engines of the city and province. This process not only defines academic direction but also impacts international projection, research, and local development.
The results will influence R+D+i projects, support for emerging companies, and innovation strategy, key factors for the competitiveness of the Tarragona territory.
Profile and trajectory: what each candidate brings to Tarragona
The scientific background and management of Josep Pallarès
Pallarès stands out for his close ties with the city and the university. His career combines high-level research and public management, with positions in the Generalitat that have helped strengthen the Catalan university system.
His commitment to URV and Tarragona is visible in his bet on technology transfer and innovation, vital factors for local industrial and scientific development.
The entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of Domènec Puig
Puig represents the most technological and business face of URV, with two spin-offs created and a research career focused on robotics and artificial intelligence. Tarragona can see in him a bet to promote emerging sectors and cutting-edge technology.
His experience as vice-rector and principal investigator positions him as a candidate with a clear vision of the future, very aligned with the current needs of the productive and academic fabric of Tarragona.
The battle for the URV rectorship is already set. On May 25, Tarragona will decide which of these two heavyweights will set the course of the university for six years, with a single term that promises to leave no excuse to look back.
Source of the article: Rovira i Virgili University
