07/03/2022
We may have just celebrated Humanities Week at IE University, but the study of human culture, art and society is something that we embrace all year round.
It takes a lot to become a well-rounded individual, and a great place to start is by infusing the humanities into all aspects of your life. From enhancing your people and communication skills to learning how to think critically, the humanities are key to forming a global, balanced mindset that sets you apart from the rest.
In fact, the humanities are our second-strongest pillar after entrepreneurship. With that in mind, we offer programs and courses in the humanities that “promote a way of thinking that is different and complementary to that of science and technology.”
What’s more, the IE Arts & Humanities Division works their magic to embed a little vibrancy into the lives of everyone in our community. By partnering with a multitude of global institutions, they can provide access to everything from dance performances, theater shows, philosophical conferences and guided tours. You name it, it’s on the agenda.
Read on to find out more about the humanities at IE University, as well as what took place at the IE Arts & Humanities Week in February 2022!
Humanities in the classroom
Not only do we help our community experience the humanities outside of the classroom, but we have also integrated them into many of our programs. It’s thanks to our partners that make this a possibility, and among our most prestigious are the Casa del Libro, the Fundación Telefónica, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Instituto Cervantes, Y.ES Contemporary and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, to name a few.
Our collaboration with the Guggenheim manifests itself in many ways, one of which is through the IE School of Global and Public Affairs’ Master in International Development. As part of this successful partnership, in 2021 three students were given the opportunity to develop an environmental and sustainability action plan for the museum within their Capstone Project.
Our collaboration with the Thyssen also continues to flourish as we work alongside the museum on various projects following the success of the large-scale reproductions on display at our IE Tower. It’s by partnering with such global organizations that we’re able to add that extra edge to our programs.
For example, we had a visit from Angel Sáenz de Cenzano, CEO of LinkedIn Spain, as part of the Critical Thinking course in the Tech MBA. His insights proved invaluable for the students who attended the session, who learned about the impact of tech companies on society, algorithm bias and much more.
Indeed, we regularly invite visiting professors onto campus in order to give a fresh perspective to our academic offering. In 2021, the Arts & Humanities Division welcomed Dr. Goretti González as Visiting Professor. Dr. González has a wealth of experience in the field, as she holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University’s Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, and she is currently a member of the RexPublica research group. Watch this space to see what this partnership brings to the table!
IE Humanities Week
Every year, we like to celebrate the richness of the human experience through the IE University Humanities Week.
The event is organized by Campus Life in collaboration with IE Foundation and the Arts & Humanities Division, and the overarching theme varies from year to year.
This incredibly versatile program gives you management skills applicable to a wide variety of professions across many sectors. MIn 2022, the fourth edition of the IE Humanities Week was held from February 14–18. The theme was “A Celebration of Human Experience” and a range of dynamic initiatives were organized across all three IE University campuses.
This year’s event kicked off with the “IExhibition gallery opening & round table on art collecting and art as an investment,” at the IE Tower.
Opened by Manuel Muñiz, IE University Provost; Catalina Tejero, Executive Head of the Arts & Humanities Division; Gonzalo Garland, Executive Vice President of the IE Foundation and Maribel Lopez, Director of ARCO, this event offered a unique insight into the importance of the arts and the concept of young collectionism.
Next, students were invited to the contemporary dance show “Opening Night,” by the Veronal Dance Company. Organized by the IE Dance Club in collaboration with the IE Arts & Humanities Division, this was a great opportunity for our community to meet off campus and head to the charming Conde Duque theater in Madrid.
In our bid to offer a diverse range of events, we screened “La Traviata,” by the Vienna State Opera at the IE Tower Auditorium.
Before the screening, Bogdan Roščić, Director of the Vienna State Opera, joined us for a virtual conversation with Catalina Tejero.
The inauguration of the “Art in the Corridors” project also fell on this year’s IE Humanities Week, which was held at the María de Molina campus. This time, the spotlight was on the IE Community, especially as the photos displayed had won awards at the IE Foundation Prizes in the Humanities competition.
The first annual four-part initiative, “From the Page to the Stage” workshop took place. This year’s workshop detailed the creative process behind El Método Grönholm, a play directed by Tamzin Townsend. Attendees were invited to watch the play at the Alcazar Theater in Madrid.
The IE Arts & Humanities Division strives to find creative ways to root vibrant meaning into the IE Community. There is an activity for everyone at each year’s edition of the IE Arts & Humanities Week. Don’t miss your chance to get creative—be sure to explore your program’s initiatives.
