IE Executive Education Programmes
Best Worldwide

El Instituto de Empresa presentó el pasado 21 de noviembre la Cátedra José María Cervelló, en homenaje al profesor Cervelló, jurista de reconocido prestigio, que durante 30 años ha formado a generaciones de abogados en el Instituto de Empresa. Dentro de las líneas de trabajo de la cátedra se ofrecerán cursos de formación, se concederán becas para jóvenes talentos, se presentarán trabajos de investigación y se promoverá el debate sobre temas jurídicos.

Abogado del Estado, socio de Ernst & Young y presidente del Consejo Rector Nacional del Instituto de Empresa, Cervelló es además un apasionado del arte, doctor en Historia del Arte y académico de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. A nivel académico, Cervelló fundó los programas jurídicos del Instituto de Empresa hace 30 años y fue pionero en el desarrollo de la abogacía internacional en España.

“José María Cervelló es un profesor y un jurista excepcional que enseña a pensar sobre el Derecho, combinando la lógica con una visión práctica, humana e interdisciplinar”, afirmó en el acto de presentación, Santiago Iñiguez, decano del Instituto de Empresa, para quien, además, “Cervelló ha contribuido a sensibilizar a generaciones de abogados sobre la importancia de la deontología profesional”.

Los titulares de la Cátedra José María Cervelló serán este año Carlos López Blanco, Adolfo Menéndez y Juan José Torres, abogados del Estado y profesores del Instituto de Empresa. Ellos serán los responsables de guiar las líneas de trabajo de la cátedra. Entre ellas, este año está previsto desarrollar trabajos de investigación y debate sobre temas jurídicos, se organizarán programas de formación y se publicará un libro como homenaje a la figura de José María Cervelló.

Becas para jóvenes talentos

Asimismo, a fin de respaldar a jóvenes talentos del mundo de la abogacía sin recursos económicos, la cátedra convocará becas para licenciados en Derecho y en Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, que deseen cursar el Master en Asesoría Jurídica de Empresas, el Master en Asesoría Fiscal de Empresas o el Master of International Legal Practice del Instituto de Empresa. Este programa de becas, que financiará la Fundación Instituto de Empresa, está abierto a abogados de todo el mundo y las ayudas se otorgarán en función de los méritos académicos y personales de los candidatos. Por otro lado, como reflejo de la inquietud artística de José María Cervelló, la cátedra también promoverá actividades vinculadas al mundo del arte.

Finalmente, la cátedra otorgará anualmente el Premio José María Cervelló a una personalidad del mundo jurídico o del mundo del arte, por su trayectoria profesional ejemplar, así como por su contribución a la sociedad.

Spain occupies 14th position in Europe in terms of competitiveness, according to the report on Competitiveness and Labour Relations in the 21st Century: a European Comparison, drawn up by Instituto de Empresa and sponsored by Adecco.

The report places Sweden and Finland in first and second positions, and highlights the fact that "citizens in more competitive countries are more satisfied with their environment and level of well-being," and that "workers in more competitive environments are more independent, freer to organise their work and more likely to take part in the workings of the company."

Although the level of training among Spanish workers is similar to the average of other European countries, Spain has a relatively low position in the ranking. The explanation lies in the strictness of the administrative environment and in lower spending on R&D, which leads to lower productivity levels, fewer patents and lower high-technology exports than in the countries that lead in Europe.

This analysis included other social variables, such as how citizens perceive their levels of happiness, health and their general faith in public systems and the economy. In more competitive countries, citizens have a greater appreciation of social spending if their greater perception of personal well-being is anything to go by. With the exception of two countries (Ireland, where the perception of real social spending is very positive, and France, where exactly the opposite occurs), it would seem that the competitiveness of the country has a very positive impact on the perception of social spending.

In turn, the same proportions of public investments are not so well received by citizens when countries are lower in the competitiveness ranking. Furthermore, personal health and happiness indicators are greater when levels of competitiveness are higher.

Although no evidence has been found of what we could call "social roots" for competitiveness, the study points out that the countries that value success and personal wealth more highly are those which occupy the lowest positions in the competitiveness ranking. The authors of the report feel that this contradicts the cliché that the desire for personal wealth is a powerful source of motivation for work.

Another of the ideas put forward in the report is that the countries in higher positions on the ranking give priority to independence and initiative instead of more conservative values, while less competitive countries conform more readily (in that "it is more important to behave correctly" and "follow the norm"). It is also interesting to note the greater importance of hedonistic values (the importance of "having a good time" and "having a fun") than those related to personal success and social influence in more competitive countries.

Human resource policies

The report also highlights the fact that HR policies should ensure that employees are more involved in organising their work. The report points to the fact that the challenge facing competitiveness in the 21st century requires a new model of labour relations in which highly qualified workers have greater flexibility and capacity for influencing decisions. The authors speak of a "new employment contract" based on the trust of the professional in the public and social system, on a lower level of conformism and more participation in corporate decisions.

Furthermore, the perception of flexibility is related to the productivity and not to a longer working day. The study shows that the transition from "working more" to "working better" needs to be given a more important role in current debates on productivity in both public sector and private business management.

Spanish society shows itself to be one of the most conformist in Europe. The authors insist that to open up a road for competitiveness in Spain, the country needs more flexible markets, more education, and an open model of labour relations where workers have a greater capacity to influence their environment.