UNIR and The Tavistock Institute create the Tavistock Chair in Social Science for Education and Change

The Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) and The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) have created the Tavistock Chair in Social Science for Education and Change, with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the entities. The agreement was signed by the Chancellor of UNIR, José María García-Vázquez Peñuela, and the Chief Executive Officer of Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, Eliat Aram.

The main objective of the Chair, assigned to UNIR Research – the Research and Technology Unit of the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) –, is to research, explore and experiment with policies, behaviours, training, structure, groups and relations, and how these elements interact towards changes and effective improvement, in specific contexts and settings.

In addition, the agreement will support, implement and evaluate previous elements, through theinclusion of all kinds of stakeholders and groups as part of the process, outcome, and improvement cycle.

Through the Chair, both institutions will analyse how technology is engaged with social policiesand changes in the relations between human beings and group or classes or categories of human beings, and how all those components can collaborate for a better achievement. Additionally, this agreement will disseminate the results of research, experiments and evaluation.

The Tavistock Chair in Social Science for Education and Change comes on top of others Special Chairs at UNIR, like IBM Chair on Data Science in Education, UNESCO Chair on eLearning, AENOR Chair on Certification and Quality Standards and Technology and ATOS Chair on Technological Innovation.

About UNIR Research

UNIR Research – the Research and Technology Unit of the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) – designs, implements and evaluates research strategies at the university. UNIR Research encourages researchers and professors to contribute effectively to research activities at UNIR, by participating in research groups, in national and European R&D Projects, as well as in a wide range of calls and initiatives related to research and to the technological aspect of the institution.

UNIR research integrates and directs research activities at UNIR in line with the main academic fields of the university (Technology, Education, Communication, Social Sciences, Law, Engineering, Humanities, Psychology, Business, Accessibility and Social Work).

Moreover, UNIR Research promotes research agreements with national and international institutions from all over the world, (mostly from Europe and Latin America). UNIR Research also represents the university at international congresses, in international organisms and committees.

About the Tavistock Institute

The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) applies social science to contemporary issues and problems. It was established as a not for profit organisation with charitable purpose in 1947. The Institute is engaged with evaluation and action research, organisational development andchange consultancy, executive coaching and professional development. Its aim is supporting sustainable change and ongoing learning, focused in the areas of employment, health and social welfare, partnerships, learning, families, and local & regional development.

The TIHR is dedicated to the study of human relations for the purpose of bettering working life and conditions for all humans within their organisations, communities and broader societies and to the influence of environment in all its aspects on the formation or development of human character or capacity.

The Institute works nationally and internationally to promote a learning culture in organisations and communities through developing individuals, groups and organisations in their capacity to think through actions, to change and put into practice new insights and in accompanying a process of change of quality of conversations and engagement. It publishes two peer reviewed journals:Evaluation – The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice – and Human Relations.