Rosa Pérez Rodríguez, a professor from the Department of Spanish Language, is the new Dean of the Faculty of Philology and Translation at the University of Vigo. Her candidacy, the only one running in the elections held this Wednesday, received 50 votes in favor, seven against, eight blank votes, and one null vote. A total of 66 out of 92 eligible voters participated, representing a 71.7% turnout.
Pérez Rodríguez, who previously served as Dean between 2009 and 2016, succeeds José Montero Reguera. Her new team includes Liliana Valado Fernández (Translation and Linguistics), Valentina Marta Rodríguez (Quality), María Platas Alonso (Students and University Life), José Carregal Romero (International), and Rocío Hernández Arias (Academic Organization).
With 34 years of experience at the faculty, the new Dean highlighted the experience and enthusiasm of her team. She thanked the outgoing deanery for their work and identified the reform of the Degree in Translation and Interpreting as a key challenge to be addressed "as soon as possible".
For the upcoming academic year, the faculty must also implement modifications to the degrees in Applied Galician and Spanish Philology (FAGE), which includes a virtual modality, and in Foreign Languages (LE), which will incorporate virtual teaching for subjects shared with FAGE and the process of phasing out the old curriculum.
Another matter to address is the potential launch of an international master's degree, an initiative approved by the Faculty Board. Pérez Rodríguez also noted the decline in student enrollment as a concern and pledged to continue efforts to attract students, emphasizing the utility and social value of humanities studies.
Finally, the Dean touched upon the challenge posed by Artificial Intelligence for universities, a transversal issue that adds to the academic and organizational challenges of her term.
