Press room

With the tenth anniversary as the the backdrop, the rector and vice-rector of the University of Mondragon, Iosu Zabala and Joxe Mari Aizeaga respectively, held a press conference today in San Sebastián, to take stock of the last decade and present to the media the event being held to celebrate the anniversary on 5 July at the Kursaal in San Sebastian which will be attended by the Basque Prime Minister, Juan José Ibarretxe.

MU has close to 4,000 graduate and post-graduate students. Of these, 3,339 are taking university degrees, which is an increase of 67.38% compared to 1997. Moreover, out of the total number of students registered at universities in the Basque Autonomous Community, 6.4% are studying in Mondragon, which is almost twice as many as ten years ago.

During this time, the university has developed an educational model of its own, called Mendeberri, which “develops autonomy, communication skills, teamwork, leadership and decision-making, amongst other abilities", pointed out Mr Zabala. In 2002, there were 3 degree courses based on this model and now there are 14, which is 60% of the total.

Since the university was set up in 1997, went on Mr Zabala, the number of courses it offers has doubled, going from 13 degree courses to 25 today, available in engineering, business management, teacher training and humanities, and communication.

On the other hand, close to 500 students a year choose sandwich courses at MU, which offer them the chance to do work experience in companies, education centres and institutions. As far as end-of-degree projects and work experience are concerned, 895 students were involved in 2007, which is much higher than the 464 students involved so in 1997.

The University of Mondragon has a network of 300 collaborating companies in which students can do their work experience. Moreover, the employability level of the university’s students is 98%. "On average, they find work within three months and, mainly in jobs directly related to their studies”, explained Mr Aizeaga.

The vice-rector also pointed out that there are exchange programmes with around one hundred European, North American and Latin American universities, which have led to nearly two hundred students last year carrying out studies, work experience or projects abroad.

The University also offers in-service training and post-graduate courses. There are now 25 courses available, masters and expert courses, together with a wide range of courses of varying durations, in six knowledge areas: business administration and management, industrial organisation and management, innovation and industrial development, information and communication technologies, leadership and teaching. Last year, 3,544 professionals were involved in in-service training activities.

Iosu Zabala indicated that the main targets for 2010 were: the development of the educational model, the relationship between university-company-organisations, specialisation, development of teaching staff and internationalisation. Finally, he pointed out that on its path to adaptation to the European system, MU has anticipated "the progressive implementation of the Mendeberri project in 100% of degree courses, promoting a learning culture in the training process and the development of e-learning", as well as "continuing to promote the combination of academic education and business training". He also said that there would not be any substantial changes or new degree courses in the next few years.

http://www.mondragon.edu