IQS has officially launched the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of its Industrial Engineering studies. Held on 11 December at the IQS campus, the event served both to highlight the quarter-century trajectory of the programme and to look ahead to the future of the profession through the lens of female talent.
IQS marks the 25th anniversary of Industrial Engineering by championing female leadership as a driver of change in the sector
The institutional welcome was delivered by Dr Salvador Borrós, Director of IQS, and Dr Andrés García, Head of the Industrial Product Engineering Group (GEPI) and a Professor in the department. Both speakers highlighted the evolution of the degree and its impact on the industrial landscape over the past twenty-five years. One of the most exciting moments was the screening of a commemorative video retracing the history of the programme through images of the different student classes and professors who have passed through the department’s classrooms.
IQS administration also took advantage of the occasion to unveil the roadmap for this anniversary, which will include three further roundtable discussions over upcoming months, culminating on 5 June 2026 with a major event: the inauguration of IQS’s new pilot plant. This key piece of infrastructure for the institution’s future will involve the reorganization and expansion of the laboratory area, as well as the incorporation of new state-of-the-art equipment.
From “soft skills” to breaking stereotypes
The central focus of the event was the roundtable entitled “Women in Industrial Engineering,” moderated by Dr Núria Llaverias, Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the IQS School of Engineering. The discussion featured in-person contributions from Mariló Casas, Chair of the Equity, Technology, and Future Committee at EIC and Senior Consultant at SENER; Núria Esteban, Concept Development Manager at SEAT S.A.; Elena Qui, former Senior Programme Manager at Amazon; and Claudia Moslares, Senior Consultant at Deister Software. In addition, to provide an international perspective, the panel connected online via Hamburg with Cristina Mas, Project Leader at Airbus.
All the speakers, who are alumni of the programme, agreed that engineering has evolved from a purely technical profile towards one in which people management is fundamental. “What we used to call ‘soft skills’ are now the real ‘hard skills,’” stated Núria Esteban, who also emphasized that while technical expertise is necessary to solve problems, “values” are what enable teams to mobilize to achieve results. Along similar lines, Mariló Casas underlined that her greatest education has been “knowing how to listen,” valuing hands-on experience beyond hierarchies or academic degrees.
The discussion also highlighted adaptability. Claudia Moslares pointed to “resilience and teamwork” as key competencies acquired during her studies to overcome any challenge, while Elena Qui stressed the importance of understanding the other party’s agenda in order to offer real solutions. This human-centred vision of the profession was summed up by moderator Núria Llaverias across three pillars: “people, values, and resilience.”
The discussion also addressed the barriers and gender stereotypes that persist within the industry. Núria Esteban shared her personal experience of moving to Germany and recalled the challenge of confronting the initial scepticism generated by her profile as a young female engineer and mother in a highly responsible technical role. All the speakers agreed on the constant need to prove their capabilities in order to gain respect. Elena Qui further explored the struggle against “impostor syndrome,” admitting that at times she questioned whether her professional growth was due to merit or to parity policies: “Am I really progressing because I deserve it, or because I look good in the photo?” she reflected.
In response to this reality, the participants agreed on the urgency of making female role models more visible for new generations and criticized early educational biases. “Boys are trained to be brave and women to be perfect,” lamented Mariló Casas, who bluntly stated that “pink and blue are an invention” and that society should not impose limits. In this regard, Claudia Moslares encouraged students to “spark technical curiosity from childhood” in order to normalize the presence of women in STEM roles. “If we wait until they are 16, it’s too late,” warned Elena Qui.
Work–life balance and looking to the future
Work–life balance and personal challenges were also discussed. Claudia Moslares, from the software sector, defended the possibility of combining a demanding career with motherhood without giving up either aspect: “I want to continue along this path while combining it with motherhood; it’s difficult, but it is a dream that will come true.” Cristina Mas, for her part, emphasized her desire to maximize the social impact of her work beyond individual success: “My goal is to contribute as much as possible not only in our work, but also to younger generations and to our planet.”
From this perspective of professional maturity, Mariló Casas noted that, having travelled this path, her current aspiration is to “put all of her experience at the service of people and companies” by taking on advisory roles. Núria Esteban completed this forward-looking vision by defining engineering not merely as a profession, but as “a way of life” that provides the mental tools to face any challenge.
To close the session, the speakers delivered a message of empowerment to the female students present, urging them not to set limits for themselves and to see engineering as a master key capable of opening doors in any sector, from logistics to automotive or strategic consulting. And, as any celebration deserves, the event concluded with a light reception shared by speakers and attendees alike.