- The bachelor’s degree in Global Studies will be offered at UVic-UCC from the 2024-2025 academic year. The course will be taught entirely in English and in face-to-face format
- The new degree, which incorporates mandatory international mobility and innovative training methodologies, will prepare students to understand, critically analyse and respond to global challenges
- Graduates in Global Studies from UVic-UCC will be able to work in organizations and institutions with an international profile, including corporations and companies, government institutions and NG
In a globalized and changing world like that of today, which requires in-depth knowledge of the cultural contexts in which we have to operate, many companies are looking for professional profiles that have a cross-cutting, multifocal vision when they analyse or seek for solutions to global challenges.
Global Studies offer a holistic, interdisciplinary view of the contemporary world, which explores the interconnections between regions, cultures, economies and ideologies. Consequently, the degree in Global Studies at the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), which will be taught from the 2024-2025 academic year at the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (FEC) of this university, will train professionals who are qualified to interact in the international context, examine it and provide answers.
A degree taught in English for global challenges
The degree in Global Studies at UVic-UCC represents a model of higher studies that focuses on the interdisciplinarity of knowledge. One of its strengths is the strategies offered to students to adapt to the complexity of a changing, globalized, connected world, and the breadth of disciplines that are covered to face current and future challenges. “The aim is to train highly qualified professionals who, through comparative analysis and international collaboration, can understand the complexities of our interconnected world and promote sustainable solutions for contemporary global challenges,” said Josep Burgaya, dean of the FEC.
“The aim is to train highly qualified professionals who can understand the complexities of our interconnected world and promote sustainable solutions for contemporary global challenges”
This training will be provided entirely in English and in face-to-face mode, for 4 years, and will consist of 240 ECTS. Forty places will be offered per academic year, which can be accessed through the public application system. The degree is based on socioeconomic and cultural knowledge, an understanding of the complexity of twenty-first century challenges, a transdisciplinary programme in the social sciences and the incorporation of the social perspective, from an inclusive, multicultural, gender perspective.
This training will be provided entirely in English and in face-to-face mode, and 40 places will be offered per academic year
In this way, the new bachelor’s degree will prepare students to understand, critically analyse and respond to global challenges. It will also train them to identify international political, social and economic actors; to examine society's challenges from a social perspective; and to work in multicultural environments linked to international organizations. Consequently, “Global Studies will equip graduates with skills in international relations, geopolitics, cultural contexts, international business or knowledge of languages,” noted Burgaya.
An outstanding feature of this degree is that students can also learn French and Chinese. On this point, Cristina Fernández, coordinator of the degree, stated that “many companies are looking for people who can relate in multicultural teams, who speak other languages, not only English, but also French or Chinese for example.” She added: "In addition, they can develop social skills, such as soft skills, that can be used in conflict resolution.”
An outstanding feature of this degree is that students can also learn French and Chinese
International mobility and innovative methodologies
The degree in Global Studies “culminates the international vocation of the FEC”, according to the dean, while also “completing the circle in a faculty that is designed so that the business and communication sectors interact in a positive way.” Considering the importance of the international component, international mobility is mandatory for all students in the final year of the degree. The mobility can be for studies or internships. If internships are not carried out abroad, they should be undertaken in a company or entity that uses English as the working language.
Considering the importance of the international component, international mobility is mandatory for all students in the final year of the degree
Global Studies also focuses on innovative teaching and learning methodologies, which are already being developed in other University degrees, such as project-based learning, cooperative learning, case studies, simulation, service learning, and the flipped classroom.
A wide range of professional outputs
Degrees in Global Studies, which have long been taught in Europe and the United States, but to a lesser extent in Catalonia, train students for a professional career in organizations and institutions with an international profile.
Thus, UVic-UCC Global Studies graduates will be prepared to carry out tasks such as the management of international projects, international human resources, global communication or international trade. In addition, they could become experts in global public policies, sustainable development or global risk analysis, among other options.
Global Studies graduates will find job opportunities in international institutions, in companies that operate internationally and in non-governmental organizations
They will then be able to access opportunities in international institutions (such as the United Nations and the European Union), where they could occupy positions in diplomacy, international relations, project management and international development, for example. Equally, they could work in institutions or companies that operate internationally, and in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), where they could develop research, programme management and communication roles. Another possible career path is research and teaching. Global Studies graduates may also find opportunities in international strategy consulting, international journalism, cultural management and international trade.
They may also find opportunities in international strategy consulting, international journalism, cultural management and international trade
In short, the degree in Global Studies “allows students to acquire knowledge to adapt to a wide range of roles and tasks, and to obtain the perspective and skills that are required to lead and manage projects and teams in many areas,” concluded Fernández.