05/12/2023
As we celebrate fifty years of innovation at IE University, it’s time to think about our future. Join us as we explore how we’ll change the world for the better over the next fifty years.
IE University recently reached its 50th anniversary, prompting us to reflect on the journey we’ve been on. Founded in 1973, we’ve grown to one of the world’s leading institutions in 2023. We’ve made incredible progress in leading innovative education—but this is only the beginning. We have great plans for the years ahead.
At IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, we’ve made strides in educational theory and have paved the way for innovative teaching methods. Our hands-on approach to education is one of the things that makes us stand out. But we have even bigger goals for the future. As emerging challenges shape geopolitical, economic, environmental and social transformations, it’s essential we stay ahead.
As we enter the next fifty years of educational innovation, we decided to go back to our roots—our passion and desire to always learn more—to better understand the world around us and use that knowledge to propel us forward into a brighter future. We asked 8,000 citizens from G20 countries and 15 experts to imagine what our future will look like over the next fifty years.
Empowering future generations
Over the next fifty years and beyond, our mission is to empower future generations and prepare them for change. Using innovative technology, the humanities, the power of social connections and sustainability, the IE Community will create a future where education is seamlessly integrated with the latest technological advancements to drive a positive impact. Societies and environments across the globe will experience a better world that is based on collaboration, empathy and social responsibility.
As IE University prepares for the next fifty years, one of our key objectives is defining the priorities that will pave the way to the future. – Diego del Alcázar Silvela, founder and president of IE University
At IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, we will work toward this mission by considering how we can shape the future of global education, how humans are impacted by technology, how education is being shaped by changing labor markets and whether our future can ever be free of armed conflict.
Together, faculty and students will shape what society and citizenship look like in 2073 and drive positive impact for years to come.
Words from our dean
Manuel Muñiz, dean of IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, is a pioneer in innovative thinking. Throughout his career, he’s inspired the next generation of change-makers to learn and always think bigger. Looking to the future, Manuel asks the question, “What legacy do I want to leave for future generations?”
The power of education has been a driving force behind the growth and success of IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs in recent years. Manuel has always been guided by a strong belief that “education is the key that unlocks the doors to the future.”
He now encourages students and faculty to continue striving for a better world.
“Keep moving forward, fearless through the unknown. Because in your hands, in all of our hands, lies the power of change.”
Our faculty’s vision
Many of our faculty members have shared their own vision of the next fifty, too. Francisco Seijo, for example, considers what sustainability will look like in years to come. With an ever-growing population and new technological advancements being made every day, sustainability will have to adapt to these changes quickly and smoothly.
Similarly, Josep Gisbert and Ángel Alonso question how we will measure development in a green, digital era. Will GDP remain a defining factor? And will technological advancements benefit everyone?
Other faculty members have even bigger considerations and are questioning our relationship with outer space—both for sustainability purposes and to tackle global challenges. Other big questions include what it will mean to be human and how the role of the state will evolve.
It’s essential to ask these questions now, so we can develop the frameworks we will need to guide the world in the right direction.
Through dialogue, the IE Community aims to pave the road to a better future, preparing students to lead and shape an evolving world.
At IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, we think big. Our depth of knowledge and our future-focused vision position us to tackle the challenges of the next fifty years head-on.
You can check out more of our big ideas here or read our insight report here.
The future is in our hands, and we’re ready for The Next 50.
