The Universitat Politècnica de València has held a new edition of the ceremony for the presentation of the "XXV Years Medals of the Universitat Politècnica de València" and the recognition of retired staff, an honor granted every academic year since it was approved by the Governing Council in May 2006. This year, the recognition has been awarded to 245 people who have reached 25 years of service at the institution and to 87 professionals who concluded their working careers in 2024.
During his speech, the Rector emphasized the deeply institutional nature of the event. “This is not merely a commemorative ceremony. Above all, it is an act of gratitude. Gratitude towards all of you, who have dedicated a very significant part of your time —the most valuable asset we have— to building the university,” he stated. In this regard, he recalled that “today we celebrate personal careers which, taken together, explain a large part of what the collective project of the UPV represents today.”
The Rector highlighted that the strength of the university is based on the joint work of all its groups. “The university does not move forward in isolated compartments, but as a diverse and cohesive community, where every contribution is irreplaceable,” he affirmed, acknowledging the essential role of both Teaching and Research Staff and Technical, Management and Administrative Staff. “Nothing of what we are today would be possible without your continued dedication,” he added.
In his address, he also underlined the progress made by the UPV in recent years, with sustained growth in student numbers and research activity. “We are currently reaching record figures in terms of research projects,” he pointed out, also recalling that the institution has launched “the largest public employment offer in the history of this university, both for academic and administrative staff,” in order to meet new academic needs.
The Rector also stressed the unique nature of the UPV within the Spanish university system. “Saying that one works at the Polytechnic is not a neutral statement: it evokes a specific way of understanding the university, linked to academic excellence, connection with the productive environment, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer and a strong commitment to society,” he said.
Looking ahead, he encouraged the university community to continue facing new challenges with ambition and initiative. “We cannot predict the future, but we can invent it,” he stated, emphasizing that the university must continue to be “an active agent of change.” In this context, he recalled strategic projects such as the new campus in China and the investment plan in infrastructures that is transforming the three UPV campuses.
The Rector also had words of recognition for those who have shaped the recent history of the institution. “Recognizing the present implies not forgetting those who came before us, their dreams and efforts to move this institution forward,” he affirmed, referring to previous governing teams and to the retired staff honored at the ceremony.
In closing, he reiterated his gratitude to all those recognized. “Thank you for your time, for your dedication and for your institutional loyalty. Thank you for having made the Universitat Politècnica de València a better university,” he concluded, before congratulating all the protagonists of the day.
