University Chairs in Family Business are aimed at fostering and promoting the creation of businesses and entrepreneurship as well as knowledge management. They also act to bring universities closer to the reality of Catalonia’s business fabric. For this reason, the current situation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic will have a bearing on the forthcoming 2020-21 academic year.

Fernando Álvarez, the Deputy Director of the Chair in Family Business and Business Creation at the Abat Oliba CEU University, says that “among many other types of content, it will be necessary to explain the new forms of business management, new needs for leadership, changes in the globalisation model and value chains.”

In addition, Mr Álvarez believes that in 2020-21, University Chairs in Family Business should explain “the importance of concepts that have become essential, such as trust, sustainability or responsibility.”

In his opinion, they should also address “the need to master the instruments of public policy assessment that improve their management and efficiency.”

Looking forward, Mr Álvarez says that “family businesses represent most of the values that society requires from the business fabric, which is a very great responsibility but also a challenge that I am sure they will gladly accept“.

“There are many examples of family businesses that have gone out of their way to overcome the unique circumstances we have experienced, generously and selflessly contributing their knowledge and resources and demonstrating their commitment to the environment. We must continue to highlight the distinguishing and necessary elements of family businesses”.

In Catalonia, the Catalan Association of Family Businesses (ASCEF) sponsors five Chairs: at the University of Barcelona, the University of Girona, the University of Lleida, the International University of Catalonia and the Abat Oliba CEU University. More than 25 teachers are involved in these Chairs, the first of which began in 1998, while over 400 students have already received training.