"You are the University of Navarra wherever you are"
president . María Iraburu spoke at the main event of Alumni Weekend
09 | 10 | 2026
More than 1,000 University of Navarra alumni , hailing from more than 20 countries, returned to Pamplona and San Sebastián to celebrate Alumni Weekend 2026. It was a day to reconnect with classmates, share stories, and relive memories.
The event brought together alumni from all graduating classes of the Schools —Science, Communication, Law, Economics, Education , Psychology, Nursing, Pharmacy and Nutrition, Philosophy and Letters, and Medicine—as well as the Schools of Architecture and Engineering (Tecnun). Graduates from the classes of 1976 and 2001 took center stage, celebrating their 50th and 25th graduation anniversaries, respectively.
The " workshop " began with meetings at each of the " Schools," during which the " alumni " met with their teachers, visited the classrooms where they attended their classes, and learned about the new facilities and projects at their schools.
This was followed by a main event that brought everyone together at the sports center. Inés García Paine ( COM’93), president of the Alumni Association, reflected on what it means to be former student of the University: “Being an alumnus isn’t just about looking back fondly, but also about looking ahead to plan and transform.”
More than 150,000 alumni eager to serve
president, María Iraburu (BIO ’87 | PhD ’92), emphasized that alumni are an essential part of the university community: “You are the University of Navarra wherever you are and wherever you work.”
He also emphasized the importance of feeling like part of a community and of being people who trust others and inspire trust. “We all need a community—the alumni community—that inspires and supports us.”
The “ meeting ” event also featured a presentation by psychiatrist Luis Gutiérrez Rojas ( MED’01), who was also celebrating the 25th anniversary of his graduation alongside his medical school class. Gutiérrez Rojas shared with the audience eight keys to achieving happiness: self-awareness, learning to play things down, having a bad report, allowing others to speak their minds, accepting that I can change, practicing empathy, finding meaning in pain, and keeping things simple. “Let’s be happy now. This is the moment.”
Photo Gallery
