Horizon 2031. The University of Granada in Light of its V Centenary. “Reflections on the Future of the University�
Esteban Morcillo SĂĄnchez
Universities are one of the oldest institutions in Europe. Over time they have evolved and adapted to the demands of society through the ages, contributing to its social, cultural and economic progress. Over recent decades the Spanish public university system has made a significant effort to adapt to the needs of human capital and training of committed citizens; it has developed an international research scope and has also transferred to productive sectors, based on business innovation processes; it has democratised governance structures, emcouraged participation in decision making, implemented programme quality assessment and incorporated information and communication (ICT) technologies into management processes and into its teaching and research activities. It has also developed an important role in dissemination of knowledge, promotion of culture and internationalisation, turning the Spanish public universities into a leading destination for Erasmus and other foreign students, well-
positioned in the major international rankings with placing several university faculties and schools among the top 150 in the world in different fields of knowledge. In the times we live in, characterised by changes in industrial processes, with ever increasing use of new information technology and communication (ICT) processes and with a serious economic, financial and budgetary crisis, which translates into profound social impact, the public university must persist as an essential public social service that contributes to the progress and development of a country and its people in a global world in the era of the knowledge society. These are some of the major challenges faced by the Spanish public university system in the coming years.