The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) celebrates its launch day

Friday, December 18th, 2020. The eight universities that make up SACRU, la Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities, held a virtual launch day yesterday with the aim of making this strategic alliance known to their university communities.

During the event, the rectors and presidents of the SACRU universities -formed by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), Sophia University (Japan), Boston College (USA), Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Universidad Pontificia Católica de Chile, the Australian Catholic University and the Ramon Llull University- reaffirmed their commitment to make this strategic alliance visible to their universities in the global context, to work together on matters of cooperation and student exchange, and, especially, to strengthen research activities.

In his speech, Josep Maria Garrell, rector of the URL and current president of SACRU, stated that at the time of the creation of the alliance, all the representatives who took part of it agreed that this "should be a network of Catholic universities that are leaders in their countries, but also on a global scale. In this sense, he added, “institutions committed to excellence in research and teaching and with a clear commitment to the concept of global collaboration".

The rector of the URL also emphasized that, in order to fulfil the mission of SACRU, in addition to the involvement of all university leaders in collaboration among institutions, it will also be necessary to foster "the commitment of the entire university community”. In this sense, Josep Maria Garrell specified that he would be committed to "listening to our communities to find the best way to fit the new objectives of the alliance with the classic objectives of each institution, and thus find the best way to achieve the mission of SACRU.

Also, on behalf of the URL, the vice-rector of International Relations and Students of the Ramon Llull University, Carlo Gallucci, participated in the event. Likewise, Blanquerna-URL professor, Míriam Díez, and her student, Lydia Dionis, offered their testimony explaining why this alliance is so relevant.