Carles Solà, former Minister of Universities and former rector of the UAB, dies
He was one of the promoters of the Vives Network and the Catalan Association of Public Universities
BarcelonaThe former rector of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and Minister of Universities in the first tripartite Government, Carles Solà i Ferrando, has died at the age of 80, as confirmed this Saturday by the UAB.
A professor of chemical engineering and a leading figure of the left-wing Valencian movement, Solà was one of the promoters of the Vives Network of Universities and the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP). During his term as rector of the Autonomous University—from 1994 to 2002—the School of Engineering was created, the adaptation to the European Higher Education Area was initiated, and the Civic Plaza and the iconic columns of the UAB were inaugurated. Furthermore, Solà was the second president of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE).
Born in Xàtiva, in the Valencian Country, and positioned in favor of independence, he closed the list of Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència in Barcelona in 2010. Before that, he was Minister of Universities, Research and Information Society in the government of Pasqual Maragall (2003-2006). During his time at the ministry, he improved the funding of the university system and the model of research centers in Catalonia. In April 2006, he was replaced by Manel Balcells in the midst of the tripartite Government crisis and two months before the referendum on the new Statute.
"The most important rector"
The current rector of the UAB, Javier Lafuente, has lamented the passing of Solà and remembered him as "a teacher who believed in me and gave me all the support when, very young, I arrived at the UAB". "He was also a good advisor when I decided to run for rector, but above all, he was an endearing, fun, and loyal friend," continued Lafuente, who defined the former rector in four words: "teacher, light, compass, and companion".
"For me, Solà has been the most important rector in the history of this still young university which, in the eight years of his mandate, made an enormous qualitative leap," concluded the current rector of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.