Last week, some students of the speciality of European and International Economic Relations of the Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Organisations (official qualification of the University of Barcelona) had the opportunity to visit the Abertis Foundation and CaixaBank, with the aim of getting to know in depth their work in the field of international relations.

With regard to the Abertis Foundation, the students learned about the organisation’s objective, as well as the institution’s challenges on an international scale. During the visit, concrete initiatives and institutional strategies in the field of sustainability and international relations were shared. To make this possible, presentations were given by Laura Berjano, Head of International Relations, Alessandra Bessana, Head of the Abertis Foundation, and Georgina Flamme, Director of International Relations, Communication and Sustainability, and Director of the Abertis Foundation.

We also visited Caixabank’s headquarters to learn about the functioning of the International Institutional Relations area and various initiatives linked to public affairs, social action, financial innovation and international cooperation. It was an ideal opportunity to understand how Caixabank organises its external action and its commitment to social development. We would like to thank Irene Uncilla, CEI Alumni and current Relationship Manager at the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation, for accompanying us throughout the visit and explaining the challenges and objectives of the Foundation, as well as Lluís Girbau (Policy & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Legal Department, Leonor Echevarria (Head of European Public Affairs) and Ricard Frigola (Imagin Head of payments).

From CEI we would like to thank both institutions for the close treatment they gave us and for allowing us to learn about their way of working and generating a positive impact on society.