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History of the School
MORE THAN 60 YEARS TRAINING ENGINEERS

In 1961, the University of Navarra created the School of Industrial Engineering in the city of San Sebastian, thus acceding to the demands of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and adding a School of Industrial Engineering to the ever-increasing academic offer of the University of Navarra. This is its history.

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  • 1961

    Inauguration of the first course

    At noon on 16 October 1961, the solemn act of inauguration of the activities of the School of Engineering took place in the Throne Room of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, with the presence of the Rector of the University of Navarre, José Mª Albareda, the President of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Vicente Asuero, the Mayor of San Sebastián, Nicolás Lasarte, the Vicar General of the Diocese, José Cruz Sudupe, the first teaching staff of the School and other authorities. The following day, on 17 October 1961, classes began.

    Inauguration of the first course
  • 1962

    Officiality of education

    Throughout this year, the official status of the courses taught by the University of Navarra was recognised by Decree 2294/1962, of 8 September, of the Ministry of National Education, which recognises the civil effects of the courses taught by the University of Navarra for the purposes set out in the Agreement signed between the Holy See and the Spanish State on 5 April 1962.

    Officiality of education
  • 1963

    III IESE Assembly

    First event between the School and IESE on the occasion of the III Assembly of the Institute of Higher Business Studies in San Sebastian, which opens the history of collaboration between the two centres of the University of Navarra. The IESE brings together in Donostia the executives who have followed its senior management programmes together with its professors and scientific staff, with the aim of channelling the continuity of the permanent training work it provides. Since then, there have been numerous students who, after their training as engineers in San Sebastian, have completed their professional curriculum as managers at IESE, since "IESE and the School share the same commitment and dedication to their students". The Gipuzkoa Technical Research Centre (CIT) was also created, with Pachi Tegerizo as its first director. The aim is to create an industrial and research laboratory at the service of Gipuzkoa's industry, which carries out its activities in perfect symbiosis with the School, as it also collaborates in the teaching of the fourth and fifth years.

    III IESE Assembly
  • 1964

    New Curriculum

    The duration of Industrial Engineering is reduced to five years, eliminating the two years of Selective and Initiation, and also incorporates the specialisations of Mechanics and Chemical-Metallurgy into Industrial Engineering.

    New Curriculum
  • 1967

    1st promotion of Industrial Engineers

    The first graduating class of Industrial Engineers from our School, made up of twelve graduates, concludes their studies. It is the pioneer class, which began and finished their studies in the half-remodelled Urdaneta building.

    1st promotion of Industrial Engineers
  • 1969

    Graduation 1st female engineer

    The School's first female Industrial Engineer, María Belén Mongelos, graduates. Together with 31 other classmates, they constitute the III Promotion of the School.

    Graduation 1st female engineer
  • 1970

    1st year of Physical Sciences

    With nine students, it graduates in 1970. This year, the specialisations of Mechanics, Metallurgy, Electricity and Industrial Organisation for Industrial Engineers.

    1st year of Physical Sciences
  • 1974

    New computer

    A new "electronic brain" is installed in the school, the HP 2100s computer, which can be connected for the first time to work as a remote terminal.

    New computer
  • 1982

    The Centre for Technical Studies and Research (CEIT) is born.

    CEIT, a centre of scientific and technical excellence, promotes innovation in industry through the promotion of research projects for companies seeking to develop new products and services. Its first Director General is also the Director of the School, José Mª Bastero, with Manuel Fuentes as scientific director.

    The Centre for Technical Studies and Research (CEIT) is born.
  • 1986

    Silver Jubilee

    Tecnun celebrated its silver jubilee in 1986 after twenty-five years as a School of Industrial Engineering in San Sebastian. Three are the continuous witnesses of this quarter of a century of life and receive the first silver medals of the University of Navarra. They are the secretary Conchita Elormendi and professors Pachi Tegerizo and José Casares. 1,116 graduates, 36 doctors, three of whom were already university professors, and a total of 987 students studying engineering in its classrooms.

    Silver Jubilee
  • 1988

    Origins of the ERASMUS programme

    The School was chosen, along with eighty other European universities, to participate in a pilot programme developed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Education for the recognition of transferable credits between universities in the twelve member states of the then European Communities. These were the beginnings of what later became known as the European Community's ERASMUS Programme for the mobility of students between university institutions.

    Origins of the ERASMUS programme
  • 1992

    Beatification of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer

    A group of students from the School travel to Rome to attend the beatification of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of the University. This year the School was also invited by the International Olympic Committee to participate in the Barcelona Games through three research projects on sports biomechanics in the disciplines of high jump, pole vault and fixed bar in gymnastics. To this end, the School sent a team of students led by Professor Javier García de Jalón.

    Beatification of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
  • 1993

    New curriculum

    Once again this year, a change of curriculum was implemented, in accordance with the University Reform Law. The Industrial Engineering degree is renewed and the School will offer four degrees in Higher Engineering: Industrial Engineering, Industrial Organisation Engineering, Industrial Automation and Electronics Engineering and Materials Engineering. The degree programme lasts five years. In addition, the LRU allows students to choose part of the subjects.

    New curriculum
  • 1995

    School Employment Day

    The Employment Day is a conference that brings companies to the School, thus bringing potential employers closer to the new engineering graduates at Tecnun. During the days, held in February or March, students have the opportunity to learn what the different participating companies do, what they need from future engineers, thus bringing supply and demand of engineers closer, and opening the possibility of obtaining a job, the realization of summer internships, or the development of the final degree project.

    School Employment Day
  • 1995

    Gold Medal

    Joaquín Casellas, the first director of the School, received the University's Gold Medal in 1995. This is the highest award given by the University in recognition of outstanding services rendered by individuals or legal entities.

    Gold Medal
  • 2000

    Telecommunications

    The Telecommunications Engineering degree begins to be taught at the School. In the same year, the Antonio Aranzábal-University of Navarra Chair of Thermal and Fluids Engineering is created.

    Telecommunications
  • 2002

    Canonisation of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer

    The University of Navarra celebrates its fiftieth anniversary and that same year, in October, the Founder of the School, Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, is canonised in Saint Peter's Square by Blessed John Paul II. In the same year, 2002, Tecnun receives the Mention of Quality from the Ministry of Education for its Doctorate Programme in Industrial Engineering.

    Canonisation of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
  • 2003

    Doctor 'honoris causa

    At the proposal of the School, the University has conferred three honorary doctorates, the latest being Anthony Kelly, in 2003, former Chancellor of the University of Surrey and founder of Churchill College, University of Oxford. Previous recipients were Christopher M. Sellars of the University of Sheffield (1989) and Manuel Elices of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (1994).

    Doctor 'honoris causa
  • 2006

    Miramón

    Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Asturias inaugurate the Miramón building.

    Miramón
  • 2009

    New qualifications

    Nine new undergraduate degrees adapted to the EHEA were introduced: Industrial Technologies Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Electronics Engineering, Telecommunication Systems Engineering, Communications Electronics Engineering, Industrial Organization Engineering, Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.

    New qualifications
  • 2009

    Tecnun Motorsport

    In 2009, the Tecnun Motorsport team took part for the first time in the Formula Student competition, driving its single-seater at the Silvertone and Hockenheim circuits. More than 45 students from the school participate in the project.

    Tecnun Motorsport
  • 2011

    50th anniversary

    Tecnun celebrates its 50th anniversary. In its half-century of history, more than 6,000 engineers and physicists have graduated. The events closed with the inauguration of the sculpture entitled "From Plane to Space", by the artist Néstor Basterretxea, which today presides over the entrance to the San Sebastián technology campus.

    50th anniversary
  • 2012

    Thesis number 500

    Engineer Leire Labaka defends the School's 500th thesis. The research effort of TECNUN has been mainly focused on research projects applied to the day-to-day running of companies, both in Gipuzkoa and globally. The first thesis to be defended at the School was that of engineer Juan Manuel Martinez-Apezteguía. In the photo the authors of both theses blowing the celebration cake.

    Thesis number 500
  • 2013

    1st MASTERS

    For the first time, master's degrees adapted to the EHEA are being introduced: Industrial Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Production Management in Companies in the Automotive Sector. All bachelor's and master's degrees will obtain EURACE accreditation by 2020, the European Seal of International Quality in Engineering.

    1st MASTERS
  • 2017

    Social commitment

    Tantaka, the solidarity time bank, was launched at Tecnun at the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year with the aim of acting as an intermediary between the associations of Gipuzkoa and the Donostia-San Sebastián campus. Since then, more than 200 people, including students and staff from the School and the CEIT research centre, have participated annually in volunteering activities in areas such as care for children and adolescents, the elderly, the sick and the disabled.

    Social commitment
  • 2018

    Business Advisory Council

    In May 2018, the Advisory Board was established. Today it is made up of 32 companies and institutions with which Tecnun has collaboration agreements to jointly and structurally review the present and future of engineering education, so that the institutions can have a positive influence on Tecnun and thus improve the skills profile of graduates and their suitability for the labour market.

    Business Advisory Council
  • 2019

    Madrid Campus

    In September 2019, Tecnun began teaching in Madrid. The Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering started at the new postgraduate headquarters of the University of Navarra with students from both the School and other Spanish universities and with a strong involvement of companies associated with the Master's Degree that collaborate by teaching, giving lectures and organising visits to their facilities.

    Madrid Campus
  • 2021

    Teaching and Innovation

    The undergraduate degrees are renewed and the ANECA approves new study plans for all the degrees, with common complementary itineraries in Computer Science, Data Analytics, Sustainable Development and Making & Hacking. The School continues its commitment to teaching innovation and joins the CDIO network, made up of the 120 best engineering schools worldwide.

    Artificial Intelligence

    Tecnun two new official master's degrees: Master's Degree in Artificial Intelligence (San Sebastian Campus), Master's Degree in Technological Innovation (Madrid Campus)

    Teaching and Innovation

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SOME OF THE SCHOOL'S PIONEERS

The School of Engineering was founded in 1961. Its first director was Joaquín Casellas. With him, other professors started the School, such as Pachi Tegerizo, Carlos Jordana, Jaime Faustmann, José Antonio Pero-Sanz, Manuel Fuentes, Manuel de la Morena, Javier Urquía, Diego Ramírez, Antonio Idarreta, José González Ibeas, Miklos Palfy and Facundo Sancho.

José Mª Bastero, who joined the School in the late 1960s, replaced Casellas as director in 1978. In 1996 he was appointed rector of the University.

The chapter of pioneers closes with some professors such as Javier García de Jalón, a former student of the School, disciple of the first ones.

And of course, we cannot forget Conchita Elormendi, the first secretary of the School, who arrived at Tecnun when the future first headquarters on Urdaneta Street was still under construction.

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* Click on the image to learn more about the School's pioneers.  

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