2025 has been a year of expansion, innovation and renewed ambition for the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI). Building on the momentum of our twentieth anniversary, celebrated the previous year, we have continued to strengthen IBEI as a leading institution for graduate education, cutting-edge research and public engagement in international affairs.

At the heart of IBEI remains an international and dynamic academic community. During the 2025–2026 academic year, we welcomed almost 200 new master's students from 45 nationalities, joining a vibrant community committed to understanding and addressing today's global challenges. Alongside the continued success of our master's programmes, our growing portfolio of summer schools, executive education initiatives, and professional development activities reflects our commitment to equipping future leaders with the knowledge, analytical skills, and international outlook required in an increasingly complex world.

Research has continued to be one of IBEI's defining strengths. Throughout 2025, our researchers secured major competitive grants at both the European and national levels, launching ambitious projects on topics ranging from European governance and EU foreign policy to artificial intelligence, public institutions, global political economy and international cooperation. These achievements further reinforce IBEI's position as an internationally recognised research centre, capable of addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary societies.

Knowledge transfer and societal engagement have also reached new levels. This year marked the launch of The IBEI World, our new multilingual podcast series designed to bring rigorous academic analysis closer to broader audiences. We also expanded our policy dialogue activities through new Jean Monnet initiatives and strategic collaborations with institutions such as the "la Caixa" Foundation, Casa Amèrica Catalunya, Catalonia International and the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, alongside numerous public debates, executive programmes and policy-oriented events that strengthened the connection between academic research and public decision-making.

The international dimension of IBEI has continued to expand through new academic networks, strengthened partnerships across Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia, and an increasingly global alumni community. Our students, faculty and graduates remain the Institute's greatest ambassadors, extending IBEI's impact far beyond our classrooms.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication of our faculty, researchers, professional staff, students, alumni, partners and governing bodies. Their commitment, talent and collaborative spirit continue to shape IBEI's identity and drive its success.

As the international landscape becomes increasingly uncertain, marked by geopolitical tensions, technological transformation and global governance challenges, IBEI's mission is more relevant than ever. We remain committed to producing excellent research, educating future generations of international professionals, and fostering informed public debate that contributes to more inclusive, democratic and sustainable global governance.

Looking ahead, we will continue working to strengthen IBEI as an internationally recognised center for advanced research and graduate teaching, one that combines academic rigour, interdisciplinary thinking, and societal impact to better understand, and help shape, the world from Barcelona.