Victòria Molins, an educator and a nun, received a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University Ramon Llull

 Molins: “The fact that the Pere Tarrés-URL Faculty of Social Education and Social Work has proposed this distinction speaks volumes about its mentality and its commitment to social justice and education”

 Molins: “I have learned that you cannot work freelance as a sniper, but in a network and with discernment, always getting in contact with professionals”

Friday, 6 February 2015. This afternoon Victòria Molins, educator, philosopher, writer and nun, known for her transformative vision of social action, was invested doctorhonoris causa by Ramon Llull University (URL) on a proposal from the Pere Tarrés-URL Faculty of Social Education and Social Work.

The ceremony began with the reading by Anna Berga, general secretary of the URL, of the appointment of the Governing Board.

Oscar Mateos, Vice Dean of Research and International Relations of the Pere Tarrés-URL Faculty of Social Education and Social Work, and sponsor of Victòria Molins, stressed that with this event, "our University endorses, or rather, renews its commitment, in an even more explicit and radical way, to this look that always wants to start with those who have lost everything”. During his speech, Dr Mateos showed how Molins understands the world and her radical commitment towards the most vulnerable.

Next came the investiture as Doctorhonoris causa and the awarding of the title and attributes to Victòria Molins by the rector of the URL, Josep Maria Garrell. Next Victòria Molins began her speech, underlining that "this honour is not for me but for the social work of many people".

Molins spoke in favour of the role of educators and social workers and volunteers, insisting that their work complements that of the professionals: “I have learned that you cannot work freelance as a sniper, but in a network and with discernment, always getting in contact with professionals. My task is complementary (...) The marginalised persons for whom we do this should not be users, as they might be in the case of social services, but friends. This does not mean that we behave as if we were their grandparents, rubbishing the work of professionals but, precisely, we should accompany them in the processes that they indicate to us”.
 

Victòria Molins finished her speech with a heartfelt thanks to the Pere Tarrés FESTS: “The fact that this Faculty has awarded me the honour I have just received speaks volumes about its mentality and its commitment to social justice and education and to this simple and anonymous task which my through me represents many other people in our society. Thank you for understanding it like that”.

Finally, Josep Maria Garrell, Rector of the URL, recalled that a Doctor honoris causa "is awarded to people for their outstanding scientific or academic merit or their social and ethical commitment and responsibility or for their civic career and contribution to the social, cultural, political or economic arena" and insisted that" for those of us who for years have known the career and the enormous input by Victòria Molins, it is very evident that she more than brings together the merits to grant this distinction".

The Rector added that in the Pere Tarrés-URL Faculty of Social Education and Social Work "people graduate with a commitment to social justice. Clearly, as a result of the vocational studies taken. People who are aware of the profession that awaits them and their difficulties, and have chosen similar paths to taht walked by Victòria Molins every day”.

• Victòria Molins Press kit
• Graphical material on Victòria Molins
• Speeches by Victòria Molins, Oscar Mateos and Josep Maria Garrell

The ceremony was rebroadcast on Twotter with the hashtags #HCVictoriaMolins and #HCViquiMolins.

More information:
Anna Tosca
Head of Press Office and Social Networks
Ramon Llull University
Tel. 936 022 228
atosca@rectorat.url.edu