La Salle Campus Madrid and La Salle Campus Barcelona held the II La Salle University Conference at the Madrid campus on April 9 and 10, under the title Lasallian Identity in the University.
In light of the renewed 'Charter of Identity of a European Lasallian University Institution' (2025), members of the organizing committee, Professors Armando Pego and Brother José Andrés Sánchez Abarrio, explained that the aim of these conferences, which follow on from the first edition held two years ago in Barcelona, is to invite university educational communities from the ARLEP District to recognize and renew their Lasallian heritage in the context of major contemporary challenges: cultural pluralism, the centrality of the person, technological transformation, social justice, sustainability, and the international dimension of education.
Over the two days, participants shared reflections on Lasallian mission and identity in the university context, embracing the responsibilities and commitments that arise from them. Through different panels, key aspects were explored, including the educational relationship between educator and student, the tradition of Lasallian humanistic education, social commitment, research, and internationalization.
The conference opened with remarks by Josep M. Santos, General Director of La Salle Campus Barcelona, and Brother Maximiliano Nogales, President of La Salle Campus Madrid. Brother Maxi emphasized the importance of remaining faithful to what is essential, highlighting “the ability to build something in common through everyday moments”. Josep M. Santos stressed that the foundation of university work must always be care for people: “The teacher elevates, the professor professes, the educator cares”.
Brother José María Pérez delivered the keynote lecture The Insights of Saint John Baptist de La Salle in the University Horizon, offering a historical overview to contextualize the role of the Lasallian university, connecting its current identity with the founding sensitivity toward those who most need education as a means of social transformation.
The panel Student Perspective was conceived as a conversation among students, moderated by Óscar Arteaga, professor at the Madrid campus, with Victoria Pont and Nicolás Garrido (Barcelona), and Iván Sánchez and Laura Rodríguez, alumni from Madrid. Curiosity, interdisciplinarity, and coexistence were among the key themes highlighted in a session that included particularly moving moments.
David Badia (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Pilar Relaño (La Salle Campus Madrid) shared their experience as long-standing educators at their respective campuses, combining their interventions with videos and testimonials from more recently incorporated faculty members.
From a core perspective of Lasallian identity centered on the educational relationship, Maria Alsina (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Cristina Rodríguez (La Salle Campus Madrid) emphasized the pedagogical foundation of fraternity as a key to making a meaningful impact on students.
Armando Pego and Brother José Andrés Sánchez Abarrio presented a Lasallian humanistic education pathway structured around five verbs: walk, seek, accompany, care, and celebrate.
In the field of research, Rosa Ma. Alsina (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Alejandro Rodríguez (La Salle Campus Madrid) presented ongoing projects from both campuses and highlighted their teaching and social impact, stating that “the challenge is to research and transform through networks.”
Likewise, Javier García Justicia (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Elva Rodríguez (La Salle Campus Madrid) pointed out that the social commitment of the Lasallian university must go beyond obtaining an academic degree and focus on fostering greater personal and social engagement among students.
Regarding internationalization, Alice Gravelle (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Alfonso Gil (La Salle Campus Madrid) stressed the need to create and strengthen a more human and truly global networked university collaboration, as exemplified by Lasallian institutions.
The conference concluded with Francesc Miralles (La Salle Campus Barcelona) and Brother Jesús Félix Martínez (La Salle Campus Madrid), who recalled that the Lasallian university is called to generate knowledge with soul, grounded in an unwavering commitment to human dignity.
These II La Salle University Conference have provided a new opportunity to highlight the commitment, fraternity, and shared mission that inspire Lasallian educational realities in the university context, reaffirming a living identity that is attentive to present challenges and oriented toward the future.
