Pere Riutord, first rector of the new University of Mallorca

PalmaPere Riutord, a doctor of Medicine and Surgery and specialist in Stomatology, became this Wednesday the first rector of the newly created University of Mallorca (UMAC). Riutord, born in Felanitx in 1960, took office in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Illustrious Bar Association of the Balearic Islands (ICAIB), where he received the rector's medal and staff from the hands of the President of the Government, Marga Prohens. The ceremony began with an academic procession composed of doctors from the UMAC and other university institutions. After formalizing the inauguration by signing the minutes, the Secretary General, Dr. Pilar Tomàs, and the members of the first rectoral team also took the oath of office.

The team is made up of Carlos López, as Vice-Rector for Quality and Services; Amparo Sard, for Culture; Ángel Arturo López, for Research; Carla Busquets, for Health; Guillem Aloy, for Strategic Programs and Campus; Carles Francesc Baeza, for Student Affairs and Internationalization; Marta González, for Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Cheska Díaz, for Communication and Institutional Relations. Riutord has developed his professional career in the areas of teaching, research, clinical practice, and institutional management, especially in the fields of Dentistry, Medicine, and Health Sciences. He has taught at the University of Barcelona (UB), the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), and, more recently, at the ADEMA University School, a center attached to the UIB, where he has held various academic and management responsibilities.

Research, innovation and technology

In his inaugural speech, the new rector placed university education, scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer among the priorities of the UMAC's academic project. "Our university wants to contribute to ensuring that no young person sees their educational opportunities reduced due to the place where they were born or reside," he affirmed. In this sense, he defined the institution's vocation as "local in commitment, Balearic in responsibility, Mediterranean in identity, European in horizon, and international in relations." Riutord also defended collaboration between disciplines and areas of knowledge, with projects that connect health sciences, art, architecture, engineering, technology, and social sciences. "We do not want to limit ourselves to transmitting the knowledge of the past; we aspire to question it, expand it, and contribute to generating the knowledge of the future," he stated.

Another area he highlighted is the incorporation of new technologies into education and research. Specifically, he mentioned artificial intelligence, robotics, simulation, virtual and augmented reality, haptic technology, and big data analysis. In this sense, he proposed strengthening their presence in classrooms, laboratories, and research projects, but also guaranteeing training that allows for understanding their foundations, possibilities, limits, and ethical and social implications.

The new rector has placed students at the center of the academic project and has advocated for an education that combines scientific and professional capabilities with human ones. He also defended university autonomy as a guarantee of freedom of teaching, research, and thought. Regarding the university system, he considered that the coexistence between public and private universities is part of pluralism and represents an opportunity to expand educational offerings, research, and cooperation between institutions.

Prohens defends the UMAC

For her part, the President of the Government, Marga Prohens, has celebrated "the beginning of a stage and a new step in an ambitious and future-oriented project". Prohens has defined the UMAC as a project that "bets on education, training, research, excellence and, above all, on opportunities for young people". The President has highlighted that the new university must allow more young people to study and train in the Islands without having to leave to access certain studies. "It is an opportunity to retain talent and continue advancing in the transformation of the economic model", she affirmed.

Prohens has also expressed the wish that the UMAC "coexists and collaborates" with the UIB, so that the relationship between the two institutions is "enriching for both". Finally, she highlighted Riutord's more than four decades of experience in the academic, teaching and research field, and she showed herself convinced that his trajectory will contribute to giving solidity to the new university project.