Pau Castellví Canet

Researcher / Coordinator of Data & Knowledge

Open University of Catalonia (UOC)

Spain

33 profile visitsSpeaker

My organisation

30 years of the world's first online university The UOC was created in 1995 as the world's first university with a virtual campus, which allowed its students to study at any time from any location. The University continually uses cutting-edge e-learning research and innovation to refine the UOC methodology. This is possible thanks to UOC R&I and its 50 plus research groups, as well as the eLearning Innovation Center, which drives educational innovation at the UOC. Furthermore, as pioneers and leaders in education's digital transformation, we lend our knowledge and experience to education administrations in need of them. Find out how. Moreover, with more than 120,000 graduates, it is now one of the biggest universities in Spain. 90,400 students 122,750 graduates  A global university with social impact The Parliament of Catalonia unanimously approved the law that recognized the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Law 3/1995, of 6 April) as a university that would render a public service but organized in accordance with private management principles Its mission is to let technology open the door to high-quality university education for everyone, with merit as the sole criterion. We adopted the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as our roadmap.
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About me

Award-winning researcher & DEIA Innovator | R&D Executive | Leadership Coach & Political Advocate

I bridge research, policy, and practice to drive systemic change. As a Research & Development executive at Làbora, and industrial PhD researcher at UOC, I lead data-driven transformation in workplace inclusion. At Làbora, the Barcelona City Council’s public-social labor market inclusion program, I coordinate the Data & Knowledge department, supporting 6,000 individuals facing barriers to employment each year and contributing to 1,500 hiring processes annually.

Beyond research, I am a leadership coach, mentor, and consultant specializing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). With over a decade of executive experience across 7 countries, I work at the intersection of organizational transformation, workforce development, and public policy.

My political journey includes running for mayor in 2019, serving as a city and regional councillor, and nearly securing a seat in the Spanish Congress. Today, I’m leading a movement to advance the political representation of people with disabilities in Catalonia, aligning with Article 29 of the UN Convention.

Academically, I hold degrees from University College Utrecht (BA, Political Science & International Relations), the London School of Economics (MSc, Philosophy & Public Policy), and EAE Business School/UPC (Master’s in Emotional Intelligence, Leadership & Coaching). Along the way I’ve managed to secure 7 different scholarships and prizes.

Born with a visual disability, I am deeply committed to dismantling barriers, whether in workplaces, leadership, or politics.

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Pronouns

he/him

I speak the following languages:

EnglishSpanish

Areas of Activity

Employment

Supported EmploymentEntrepreneurship and micro-financeHigher education to prepare for the labour market

ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Big Data SolutionsCommunity and Knowledge Platform

Other Areas of Activity

EducationIndependent Living and Political ParticipationAccessibility

At #ZeroCon25, I am looking for...

Financing/InvestmentIncrease expertise in accessibility and inclusionInvitations to international conferencesLicensing PartnershipsNetworkingProject CooperationsResearch Cooperations

At #ZeroCon25, I am offering...

Increase expertise in accessibility and inclusionLicensing PartnershipsNetworkingProject CooperationsResearch CooperationsConsulting

Speaker sessions (1)

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

15:00 - 16:00

Diverse Minds, New Insights: Researchers with disabilities

Format:In-personLocation:M3
  • Supported Employment
  • English captions | International Sign

This forum demonstrates how removing barriers in academia fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, resulting in better research for all.

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