22 October 2026

The Social Council of the University of Valladolid has given its 2026 Innovation Awards to six projects by teaching staff and technical, management and administrative staff. One of the winners comes from UVa's International Relations Service.

The Social Council of the University of Valladolid (UVa), a member of SGroup, has recognised good practice among its staff with the third edition of its Innovation Awards. The awards cover two groups: teaching and research staff (PDI) and technical, management, administration and services staff (PTGAS). The jury chose three projects from each group. It looked for work that improves the institution, drives digital transformation and responds to strategic challenges.

Projects that use heritage, simulation and AI

The ceremony took place in the Salón de Grados of the Faculty of Law. It was chaired by Rector Pilar Garcés, together with Óscar Campillo, President of the Social Council; José María Marbán, Vice-Rector for Academic Policy and Teaching Quality; and Blanca Ares, Director of Universities and Research of the Regional Government of Castilla y León. Winners receive €3,000 or €1,000 and a diploma.

Teaching staff (PDI)

• First prize: Marita Hernández (Faculty of Medicine), for "UVa Heritage: a resource for learning, a value for the institution". The project uses the university's historical and scientific heritage for teaching through exhibitions, practical classes and outreach events such as "Night of Skeletons" and "Anatomy of Love". The jury highlighted its work across disciplines and campuses, the part students play in it and how far it reaches into society.
• Honourable mention: María Belén Turrión (Department of Agroforestry Sciences), for EDAFOLAB-UVa, a laboratory for teaching innovation and knowledge transfer in soil science.
• Honourable mention: Alejandro de Miguel Álvaro (Department of Psychology), for a live expert-report exercise. Students learn through a simulation of a complete criminal risk assessment case.

Technical, management and administrative staff (PTGAS)

• First prize: Eduardo García Ochoa, Technical Director for Indicator Analytics and Foresight, for SAVIA UVa. The tool uses collaborative tools and artificial intelligence to turn staff experience into structured, reusable knowledge. That knowledge is kept when people retire, move or reorganise, which eases the handover between generations. The jury valued that it is already in use at the university with good results.
• Joint honourable mention: María del Mar Fernández, Head of the International Relations Service and SGroup Liaison Officer. Her project builds a repository that links UVa research lines with international doctoral candidates looking for Erasmus+ stays. It aims to attract international talent to the university's doctoral programmes.
• Joint honourable mention: Vanessa Calleja, Services Inspector, for COMPAT-IA. This chatbot gives quick answers on staff compatibility rules, regulations and administrative procedures.

Innovation across the network

Several of this year's projects reflect themes SGroup works on across its network: internationalisation of doctoral education, digital transformation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in university administration. The University of Valladolid is also home to SGroup's registered seat, hosted by its International Relations Service.

SGroup congratulates all the winners and the UVa Social Council on recognising the people who keep our universities moving forward.

Source: University of Valladolid – El Consejo Social de la UVa reconoce las buenas prácticas del profesorado y el PTGAS con los Premios a la Innovación 2026