STATEMENT: Pedro Sigaud Stamps, new dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at UIC Barcelona

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Sigaud Sellos takes on the role of Pere Buhigas, who will continue at the Centro Council as vice-dean.

The new dean is committed to research and transfer, internationalization and expanding the range of studies.

Barcelona, ​​September 15, 2023.- Pedro Sigaud Sellos is the new dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the International University of Catalonia (UIC Barcelona). Doctor in Communication from the University of Navarra, Sigaud Sellos has combined various international experiences in the fields of university management, teaching and research, focused especially on digital technologies and the media. His current research addresses leadership and entrepreneurship in the creative industries, with an emphasis on the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries.

Pedro Sigaud Sellos has worked as vice dean and as director of the master's degree in Leadership and Innovation in Media at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication (the leading communication school in the Gulf region, founded in agreement with the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Cinematic Arts, both at USC in Los Angeles), the American University of Dubai. In addition, he is a member of the consulting team of Harvard Business Publishing Education Research and the Dubai Future Council on Media, has designed postgraduate programs in different countries, and has collaborated on different teaching projects for foreign universities.

Upon assuming this position, the new dean considers the expansion of the Faculty of Communication Sciences as a challenge: "One of the main strategic objectives is its consolidation from a research point of view, but also in transfer to industry, to the professional world," he points out.

For this reason, "a deep understanding of new technologies and their application in the world of media is necessary, especially artificial intelligence. Our students must have a profile that allows them to work in any traditional media, but also "We must encourage them to have entrepreneurial capacity so that in the future they can propose innovative solutions to the challenges that arise in the field of communication."

Along these lines, Sigaud Stamps is committed to internationalization and expanding the range of studies. "Another objective would be to establish more strategic agreements with foreign entities and universities and expand our offer of master's and postgraduate programs," he explains.

The dean highlights the importance of the task of training the professionals of the future. "We have a very responsible role when it comes to training our students very well, so that they have a positive impact on society," he says. "Communication and the media are great shapers of opinions, trends and behaviors. Our ideas and attitudes, contrary to what we believe, do not originate in ourselves, but are mostly based on models that we see and hear, and with a lot of "Frequently, more than we can imagine, these models come from the media. It is no coincidence that it is often said that the press and the media are 'the fourth estate.'"

Among other things, the new dean highlights the Faculty's recently opened and "top quality" facilities, and comments that "the Transmedia Lab, for example, is designed so that students can innovate and experiment with the production of new products and multimedia formats".

Sigaud takes over from Pere Buhigas, who will continue on the Center Board as vice dean, along with also vice dean Montserrat Vidal-Mestre and Raquel Iriso as director of studies. Laura Domènech, center manager, completes the board.

For more information: Laura Andrés Tallardà.landrest@uic.es.T. 34 932 541 800, ext 4365.657730373.

About UIC Barcelona The International University of Catalonia (UIC Barcelona) was founded in 1997 with the aim of offering quality university education and promoting research as a service to society. Linked to the business world and with a marked international character, it teaches 16 degrees, 8 double degrees, around thirty international double degrees and a wide range of postgraduate programs on its two campuses, located in Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallés.