BSc Mathematics at the University of Oviedo. On the Launching and Two First Bachellor’s Programmes in Mathematics

Abstract

This paper aims to highlight the crucial role played by Professor Pedro Gil in launching, planning and designing undergraduate studies in Mathematics for the University of Oviedo (Spain).

Dugnol and Valdés—Professors in Applied Matematics, both of them being currently retired.

Addendum: Pedro Gil’s Own Related Words on the Occassion of the Official Ceremony Held for His Retirement in November 2010

I wanted to thank my friend the Chancellor, Professor Vicente Gotor. Over the last many years, we have both been doing a job, a job with a purpose. We have been doing it without fanfare, but with results. And yes, looking back, you realize that you have achieved things. But I wanted to thank him today because, in my opinion, he was a key enabler behind the creation of the area of Mathematics.

Vicente was, at that time, area director (a kind of Vice-Chancellor assistant) within the Vice-chancellorship led by Professor Marita Aragón, the Chancellor of the University being Professor Juan S. López Arranz. Then, one fine day he called me and asked “would you prepare a syllabus for the diploma in Statistics?”, and this is how it all started. Neither shy nor lazy, I sent him, as soon as I could, a complete syllabus for the diploma of Statistics, that never came to see the light.

Well, that degenerated somewhat because, Benjamín Dugnol was more ambitious than me and said, “and why not a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics?” So I made a plan for a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics based on what I know, which is the specialty of Statistics. And then, with help from Javier Valdés, who is also here today, we did, both of us, sitting at a table, hand in hand, a syllabus that was then published in the Official Bulletin. Any flaws it may have are exclusively our own, any strengths, too.