The professors Antoni Nomdedeu and Àngel Urquizu have established relations with many Asian institutions and have a comprehensive knowledge of different cultures from the continent. They have been appointed by the rector as the URV’s Asian Envoys to assist in the work carried out by the Office of the vice-Rector for Internationalisation

Both professors have established relations in Asia, in particular China, and for years have been teaching bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and study abroad courses to Asian students. As the URV’s envoys in Asia they will support the work of the Office of the vice-rector for Internationalisation (headed by Mar Gutiérrez-Colón) by making new contacts with universities and strengthening existing ties. They were appointed by the rector Josep Anton Ferré on 15 March.

Antoni Nomdedeu is a professor in the Department of Romance Studies and executive secretary of the Centre for Hispanic Studies of the URV (Faculty of Arts). In 2011 he was awarded the Vicens Vives Teaching Quality by the Catalan Government, together with Esther Forgas, for the training programme for Chinese students at the URV. His research interests are lexicography, the history of the Spanish lexicon and teaching and learning Spanish as a foreign language.

Àngel Urquizu is a professor and currently the head of the Department of Private, Procedural and Financial Law (Financial and Tax Law Section). He coordinates the URV’s courses in Spanish and business at the Centre for Hispanic Studies. He is an expert in Spanish business investment in Asia and Latin America and is director of the Master’s Degree in International Business between Europe, Asia and Latin America, which will be taught during the 2016-17 academic year. He has organised three conferences on this theme at the URV.