In his speech, the rector highlighted Esteban’s career, describing him as “an example of calm and committed leadership” since taking office in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Leading in times of crisis requires clarity, composure, a vocation for service and great listening skills,” Capilla stated. He also acknowledged Esteban’s work as the UPV’s coordinator of schools, a key role in university governance.
Capilla also emphasized the School’s academic and research excellence—ranked the top telecommunication engineering school in Spain according to the Shanghai ranking—as well as its strong commitment to innovation and social responsibility. He praised the work of the iTeam research institute and highlighted pioneering projects such as the launch of satellites and the restoration of vintage radios. He also referred to the close collaboration between the Rectorate and the ETSIT, especially in areas such as infrastructure, teaching quality, and student life.
For his part, Héctor Esteban focused his address on the power of ideas that shape both the university and its schools, which he described as “powerful ideas” brought to life through projects and people. He explained that he entered university management as a way to contribute to collective improvement, and laid out his goals for the new term.
He emphasized that “teaching is the university’s main mission” and defended a model of public education rooted in quality, equitable access, critical thinking and meaningful in-person learning. “Our School’s mission is to inspire students and support them in their learning, without a paternalistic attitude,” he said. He also underscored the importance of close ties with industry and the School’s outreach role.
Among his priorities, he listed infrastructure improvements, the creation of new degrees, updates to the bachelor’s and master’s programmes in Telecommunication Engineering, and the promotion of initiatives to foster student engagement in research, entrepreneurship, internationalisation, and Generació Espontània.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and education as the cornerstones of ETSIT and the UPV.