University of Barcelona Launches Facultat 18 to Support Gaza's Public Universities

The University of Barcelona (UB) has started the 2025-2026 academic year by launching Facultat 18, a new academic and institutional project designed to raise awareness about the situation of the Palestinian people and support Gaza's three public universities. Facultat 18 aims to create a lasting connection with Palestinian universities and includes a fundraising campaign to help rebuild Gaza’s university system. UB collaborates with UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) on this initiative. The project will also award an honorary doctorate to an international figure notable for fighting against genocide and advocating for peace. It serves as an umbrella for UB’s ongoing efforts like the UB Refugi program and the BASE project, aiming to improve resource coordination and impact. Inspired by Barcelona’s District 11 initiative supporting Gaza and Palestine, Facultat 18 reflects UB’s commitment to responding to humanitarian crises, echoing its historic support for Sarajevo during the Balkan war. Rector Joan Guàrdia emphasized the university's duty to face up to the realities of the Palestinian people and provide a strong response against war crimes and occupation.