The Universitat de Lleida (UdL) is a dynamic institution that aims to build the future by generating knowledge and by educating responsible professionals and citizens committed to the advancement of society. Alongside its research activity, the UdL’s main objective is to provide a holistic education for its students by complementing sound academic training with other cultural and recreational activities. Individualized attention, a clear focus on the development of professional skills, the use of the information and communication technologies and support for mobility are features of the UdL philosophy.

The origins of the University date back to the historic Estudi General, created on 1 September 1300, by a foundation charter granted by King James II at the request of the municipal authorities. Previously, on 1 April 1297, Pope Boniface VIII had issued a Bull approving the establishment of an Estudi General in the lands of the Kingdom of Aragon. This institution fell into decline in the mid-seventeenth century, due in part to the wars between France and Spain. After the War of the Spanish Succession, the Bourbons introduced a new university model, and on 11 May 1717, in gratitude for the support received during the war from the town of Cervera, they founded a new university there to replace all the existing university institutions in Catalonia. The Royal Decree of 9 October ordered the closure of the Estudi General of Lleida, after more than 400 years of academic activity, thereby ending the first stage in the life of Catalonia’s oldest university. On 12 December 1991, the Parliament of Catalonia passed legislation to establish the new Universitat de Lleida, to organize and supervise all the university studies in existence in the city. The constitution of the University concluded with the approval of the University Statutes on 27 October 1994. So the UdL combines a long, productive university tradition with a young, dynamic structure firmly committed to high quality teaching and research.

The mission of the UdL is to educate, by providing teaching of excellence to its students and by offering quality services to the university and to the wider community. The University is keen that students should develop not only academically and professionally, but personally as well. At the start of the twenty-first century, the UdL is an enterprising university committed to a comprehensive educational model which is sensitive to local needs and is based on the development of a learning environment to provide students with the skills they need to adapt successfully to the ever-changing demands of today’s society. The UdL is currently providing full support for the introduction of innovative methods and course structures in keeping with the requirements of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

The UdL’s strategic research plan focuses on three main cross-sectional areas: agrifood, health and education, and territory, heritage, and culture. The University’s 26 departments make up the basic structure of its human capital for research. This structure is supported by the UdL-Irta and IRBLleida Foundations and the Science, Technology and Food Processing Park, set up jointly with various public institutions. Forty-four of the UdL’s groups are officially recognized by the Directorate-General for Research of the Catalan government, which acknowledges scientific excellence. The Vice-rectorate for Research is directly responsible for developing channels of support for research staff, such as mobility projects (short-term and long-term placements at research centres and travel opportunities) and further training in the form of supplementary allowances for grant holders, predoctoral grants, and so on. The R&D&I Support Office supervises the transfer of the research results to the business sector and provides a vital bridge between the University, business, and the rest of society.

The UdL complements its academic teaching with activities to further personal development. It provides a wide variety of services, open not only to students and other members of the university but to the local community as well, including cultural activities such as drama, music, dance, and cinema and sports events.

The International Relations Office, run by the UdL’s Vice-rectorate for International Relations, promotes international mobility among the university community. The International Cooperation Centre, which is a member of the Interuniversity Cooperation Program (ICP), takes part in the projects for welcoming international postgraduate students, organizes training courses, lectures and talks, and processes international grant applications.

The UdL’s campuses are located throughout the city. Recently, several new faculties and university buildings have been built, equipped with modern facilities suited to student needs. In the last year, the new Faculty of Education Sciences was inaugurated at the Cappont campus. All the campuses are inside the city and are easy to reach by bus. They have teaching and research laboratories, meeting rooms, computer rooms, study rooms, well-stocked libraries, and additional services such as cafeterias, copy shops, and so on. All UdL campuses have areas with access to the wireless network through Eduroam, a secure international roaming service for users in Higher Education. The UdL also has a virtual campus on which students can check their grades, access teaching materials, and so on.

The UdL’s strategic plan, adopted in 2006, reflects its commitment to responding to the needs of the wider community. The UdL is a reference point in sectors such as food processing and agriculture, which represent key elements in the local economy. The University offers an innovative range of academic courses geared to achieving the aims of the new European Higher Education Area at undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate levels. Friendly tutoring and a manageable campus system mean that students are very much the focus of the University. The UdL is firmly committed to internationalization and to increasing mobility among students and academic and administrative and services staff, perfecting their language skills, and encouraging international cooperation. The University provides financial assistance for the Erasmus, Sicue and DRAC programs. In 2006, over 325 students took part in these programs.

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