Recognition from the UCLM Social Council

The University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) is celebrating 25 years since the creation of the university's Social Council. Coinciding with this celebration, the Social Council Recognition awards were presented to people and institutions that have stood out as a result of their ties to the University of Castilla-La Mancha.

During this edition of the awards ceremony, Repsol and Fundación Repsol received the society-university collaboration award in recognition of their commitment to UCLM. Ignacio Egea, Vice Chairman of Fundación Repsol, and Francisco Castro, Deputy Director of People and Organization at Repsol's Industrial Facility in Puertollano, accepted the award from Emiliano García Page, President of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha.

The other awards were given to two former UCLM students: Patricia Franco, Economics, Business, and Employment minister for the government of Castilla-La Mancha, and José Manuel López, Executive Managing Director of Joma Sport. Asunción Manzanares, Learning Sciences and Humanities professor in Cuenca, received an award in the Teaching Innovation category, while the Regional Centre for Biomedical Research (CRIB) was acknowledged in the Research category. Pedro Cano received an Administrative and Services Staff award, and academic Ricardo Izquierdo was acknowledged for his work in the Teaching and Research Staff category. Student Mario Gutiérrez's scientific and technology-related activities, through his participation in several R&D&I projects, were also acknowledged.

The ceremony was also attended by Marcial Hellín, Secretary of State for Education, Professional Training, and Universities; Miguel Ángel Collado, rector of the University of Castilla-La Mancha; Emilio Ontiveros, Chairman of the UCLM Social Council; and other representatives of public bodies and members of the university community.

As Marcial Hellín stressed, the UCLM, ""though young, has an established reputation"". The institution comprises four university campuses, has over 2300 professors and 30 000 students, and is among the best 200 universities in the world. 

The partnership between Fundación Repsol and the UCLM Social Council began in 2014, with a joint scholarship programme aimed at helping people with disabilities access university studies.

Since then, each year four new scholarships for newly-enrolled students have been presented, and those awarded in previous years have been renewed. A total of 24 scholarships aimed at promoting higher education among students with disabilities have been awarded. Jointly funded by Fundación Repsol and the UCLM Social Council, the sum awarded for each scholarship is two thousand euros.

Students interested in the scholarships for the upcoming academic year should apply after the summer holidays by filling out the standardised form that will be made available in the Convocatorias (Grants and Scholarships) section of the UCLM and the Social Council's web pages.

This partnership is part of Fundación Repsol's scholarship programme, which supports young talent in order to build a more sustainable and inclusive society.