Numbers are up again this year at the University of Andorra, according to figures from the registration process for the 2020–2021 academic year. The data shows that the number of students registered on official courses (advanced professional diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates) has increased by around 1% from last year, which was 4% up on the previous year. This new total of 547 students on official courses achieved in October confirms the university’s growth in spite of the pandemic. The most in-demand courses continue to be the bachelor’s degrees of Business Administration (39 new students), Nursing (31) and Computer Science (30).

This year’s changes include a revamping of the Computer Science bachelor’s degree – with a new, skills-based educational model – and updates to the Communication bachelor’s degree that tailor it to the sector’s new needs. On the research front, the Research Group on Technology has been created, joining the existing groups in Health, Education, Languages and Financial Economics. Other action planned in this area includes the promotion of industrial doctorates this year and an increase in the time teaching and research staff at the University dedicate to research, from 10% currently to a target of 25% in 4 years’ time.

The 2020–2021 academic year will also see the first extension to the campus, with the opening of a new annex building, named the Cub, near Plaça Laurèdia. For now, it will be used to relieve pressure on the University’s existing classrooms and respond to a need for extra space that has only been exacerbated by the Covid-19 health crisis.

Teaching began at UdA on 9 September. As many in-person lectures as possible have been maintained, though some classes have been made virtual, thanks to a new video conference teaching platform. This mixed approach could undergo changes in terms of teaching, methodology and evaluation, depending on how the situation caused by the pandemic develops.

Date of publication: 26 October 2020