Background

As the first director of the School, Professor José Antonio Torroja promoted a specific model, which has defined its structure and operation from its creation to the present day. In this model, a significant portion of the faculty dedicates most of their time to teaching and research, while simultaneously establishing schools of thought in various specialties and forming teams for research, postgraduate training, and future management. This ensures the School serves the country through teaching and research in active collaboration with industry.

Following this model, he gathered a group of enthusiastic professors who successfully launched and grew the School. Even today, they remain the leading figures of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering.

The School’s academic model was built during Professor Eduardo Alonso’s leadership. In particular, a search was conducted for new, young professors with excellent training and great motivation.

There was a certain revolutionary fervor surrounding university autonomy, rejecting the traditional civil service path for professors in favor of a contract-based approach that advocated for the end of classic state examinations. This lasted only a short time.

The entirety of Torre Girona was occupied, and an administrative structure was consolidated. An unsuccessful search for laboratory space was carried out in nearby pavilions, as it appeared to infringe on urban planning criteria, though subsequent history proved otherwise.

Professor Juan Murcia’s management team took office with the aim of continuing to strengthen the School in all its activities, following the path established since its beginnings.

Intensive work was carried out, alongside the Rectorate, to secure approval for the new curriculum, which was held up at the Ministry. They also worked with a team of architects appointed by the University to develop the preliminary project for the planned new facilities. This involved visits to existing laboratories both within and outside Spain. The School’s administrative structure was reorganized to better meet new needs. There was collaboration with the Association of Civil Engineers on matters of common interest... Although circumstances meant the management team served for only a short time, they were left with the satisfaction of having served the School.

During Professor Eugenio Oñate’s tenure, teaching in Technical Civil Engineering began.

Many of the first professors came from different parts of the world, attracted by the new model based on combining high-quality teaching with cutting-edge research. Life in the historic Torre Girona building (now the UPC Rectorate) had a close-knit, familiar atmosphere, and any personal occasion was a reason for celebration.

The introduction of the University Reform Law (LRU) in October 1982 normalized the idea of combining teaching and research and, at the same time, facilitated the stabilization of dozens of professors, who later obtained tenured positions and professorships in the following years. The opportunity in 1986 to promote the construction of new facilities at the North Campus, equipped with modern laboratories, ultimately led to leaving Torre Girona in April 1989, albeit with some sadness.

The years under Professor Antonio Marí’s leadership were marked by the implementation of the 1990 curriculum, which for the first time introduced a cyclical structure. An advisory committee of construction companies was also created, which became involved in both economic and academic matters, such as funding the ETSECCPB auditorium in building C2 of the North Campus. Relations with the Professional Association of Civil Engineers and with the Association of Technical Civil Engineers were strengthened.

The final phase of the North Campus construction works continued, and collaboration took place in managing the relocation of the School from Torre Girona to the North Campus.

Under the leadership of Professor Jesús Carrera, the initiatives launched by the previous administration were consolidated (new study plan, construction company advisory committee, etc.), and the School’s public visibility was strengthened through visits from prominent figures such as Josep Borrell, Àngel Colom, Alfredo Rubalcaba, Joaquim Molins, and Albert Vilalta. Public events were also held, including graduation ceremonies, the Manolo Casteleiro medal award, and the 20th anniversary celebration, all with media coverage.

Progress was also made in transforming academic programs into more than just a collection of courses, improving their coherence and reducing overlap between subjects.

Under the leadership of Professor Benjamín Suárez, all study plans implemented as a result of the LRU were updated. The curricula for Civil Engineering (1995), Technical Civil Engineering with three specializations (1996), and Geological Engineering (1994) were revised to align with the new guidelines.

Professor Suárez was one of the strongest advocates for relocating the School to the North Campus, first as deputy director and later as director.

Once the relocation of the School to the North Campus buildings was completed, several initiatives were launched, such as the Civil Engineering and Environment Documentation and Debate Center (CDDECMA), the School Computing Center, and a multipurpose hall.

During this mandate, the teaching assignment methodology promoted by the Rectorate was also introduced, becoming a key element in all faculty hiring processes from that point onward.

During Professor Antonio Aguado’s tenure, the School’s strategic plan was signed with UPC.

The 25th anniversary was celebrated with various events, including the publication of a book on its history.

New initiatives were introduced that later became established traditions, such as the graduation ceremony and the Futur Civil industry forum.

Double-degree and management training agreements were signed with institutions such as École des Ponts ParisTech, Imperial College London, and École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), among others.

Several student-oriented programs were strengthened, including mentoring schemes, the promotion of InterCamins, student representation, and the allocation of time slots in the timetable for organizing activities of common interest.

The 3rd National Civil Engineering Congress was held in Barcelona. The Ministry approved the Geological Engineering degree.

Professor Joan Ramon Casas was the first director of the School of Civil Engineering who had graduated from the same institution, a trend that continues to this day.

In the academic domain, he led the School’s proposal for new study plans in line with the Bologna Declaration, consisting of a single undergraduate degree and several specialized master’s programs, which he defended at the Conference of Directors of Civil Engineering Schools in Spain. He also promoted a thorough review of course syllabus content. He consolidated the internationalization of the School, which had begun during his previous role as deputy director, expanding the number of European partner institutions for student exchange programs (Erasmus) and double degree agreements. He contributed to strengthening professional relations through a new agreement with the Civil Engineering Association and the School’s Board of Trustees. During his tenure, the Thesis Room was also built.

During Professor Francesc Robusté’s tenure, the rector cut the School’s budget by 20%. Internal expenses were reduced, and additional off-budget funding was secured. The president of the School’s Board of Trustees, Àngel Simon, established the well-known Agbar corporate chair. Ineco created a chair dedicated to pavements, and the Cercle d’Infraestructures established another corporate chair, which complemented the existing COMSA Chair, the Abertis Chair, and the Duran Farell Chair.

CODEIC (the Committee of Directors of Schools of Civil Engineering Education) was created to coordinate Bologna Process curricula, and active participation took place in defining sector-specific master’s programs within UPC, particularly the Master’s in Supply Chain, Transport and Logistics, which later led to the University Master’s in Urban Mobility sponsored by the EIT.

A presentation book of the School was produced (2006, 132 full-color pages in three languages), and the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering was positioned as the leading institution not only in Spain but also across Ibero-America in international and national rankings, such as those published by the newspaper El Mundo.

The period under the leadership of Professor Antonio Huerta was very intense due to legislative changes, which required significant efforts in adaptation and modernization. Everything was achieved thanks to the sacrifice, generosity, dedication, and commitment to the institution of the management teams and many coordinators of courses and specific projects (both academic and administrative). Some of the actions carried out included the design and implementation of undergraduate and master’s degrees, while maintaining and strengthening internationalization, with the support of professional associations; the improvement of facilities for administrative and service staff; the alignment of evaluation criteria with European recommendations, which resulted in fairer and more competitive assessment for students; the introduction of teaching assistants co-funded by the School; the teaching of compulsory courses in English to promote internationalization; and the consolidation and expansion of the Camins area within UPC (academic unit and autonomy of the School in degree programs, doctoral studies, administrative structure, campus organization, new spaces, and the definition of evaluation committees, among others).

During Professor Sebastià Olivella’s tenure, the design and implementation of bachelor’s and master’s degrees aligned with the European Higher Education Area continued, with the aim of promoting mobility and exchange. Agreements were signed with internationally prestigious universities.

Mandatory minimum mobility requirements and internships in companies were introduced, which had a highly positive impact on students’ academic and professional profiles.

Accreditations from AQU for undergraduate and master’s degrees were achieved. The School also obtained accreditation from the German agency ASSIN, enabling the EUR-ACE label.

In the area of university management and administration, the Camins environment was a pioneer in 2015 with the implementation of the Transversal Management Unit of the Camins Area (UTGAC), which led to an organizational and spatial restructuring. The UTGAC also served as a unifying framework for the incorporation of the Institute of Sustainability, the Master’s in Sustainability, and the PhD programs in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability.

During Professor Pedro Díez’s tenure, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA) was fully integrated into the School, with the aim of managing both entities as a single organization. A new academic track was created with two environmentally oriented degrees (a degree in Environmental Engineering and a degree in Marine Science and Technology) to highlight the School’s role in these disciplines. The civil engineering track was also reorganized, leading to the re-accreditation of the Civil Engineering degree (which qualifies for professional practice) and the creation of a new degree in Civil Engineering Technologies (non-qualifying, designed as part of an integrated pathway with the master’s program). The School’s steering group and a business advisory council were also established.

CODICAM was founded together with the other Civil Engineering schools in Spain. A financial contribution was secured from FGC to promote academic activity in the field of railway engineering through the hiring of a faculty member.

She is the first woman to lead the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering. Under her leadership, the restructuring of the School’s undergraduate and master’s academic offerings becomes especially significant. Among other initiatives, the Academic Program of Successive Pathways (PAR) is designed and implemented, linking the Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with the Master’s in Civil Engineering, Canals and Ports, thereby enabling an integrated and coherent academic trajectory. Likewise, the Master’s in Water Engineering is validated and implemented, developed jointly with the Barcelona Water Supply Company (Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona). This master’s program becomes the first dual master’s degree offered at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, marking a milestone in integrating university education with professional experience in industry. A teaching innovation project is also promoted, focused on creating learning spaces that foster in-person, active, and meaningful learning in the School’s degrees (CAMINS 50+), through the creation of CaminsLabs and CaminsChallenges.

During her tenure, she also strengthens the connection between the School and the socioeconomic environment. In this context, she establishes the School’s Business and Social Commitment Council, an advisory body made up of sector leaders and prominent professionals. She also launches the Camins Connected project, an initiative aimed at bringing companies closer to the academic world, fostering collaboration between students, faculty, and professionals, and strengthening the link between university education and industry practice.

The auditorium is also renamed the José Antonio Torroja Auditorium in recognition of the School’s first director. At the same time, the space is renovated to update its technical capabilities and provide greater versatility for academic and institutional events.

Finally, under her leadership, the 50th anniversary of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering is celebrated, an event supported and sponsored by various companies linked to the sector.