María Iraburu, president: "The University of Navarra is a project that transforms people and society, and that fills all of us who are part of it with enthusiasm".

Nearly 3,500 people attended the University's workshop University's Welcome Ceremony which was held at sports center. The president María Iraburu referred to the enthusiasm and excitement with which the first-year students and their families arrive at campus and wanted them to participate in the mission statement of the University. "The University of Navarra is a project that transforms people, that transforms society and that fills all of us who are part of itwith enthusiasm," he said. "You enrich the campus with your lives, with your experiences," he told the students, and described the university stage as a time of exploration, of growth staff and academic growth, in which students enter very diverse areas of knowledge .

The president mentioned the three pillars on which the project is based, which began in 1952 with the encouragement of St. Josemaría: a passion for work, a priority for people and a vision of solidarity in life. María Iraburu had words of gratitude for the professionals, friends, donors and alumni who make the University of Navarra possible. The applause and the end of her speech was directed to the parents who were listening to her at sports center. "The best university in the world has no place if there are no families, students, who bet on it. You have placed your trust in the University of Navarra and you have given us the best you have, which are your sons and daughters". 

More than 2,400 first-year students in the different Degrees

This academic year 2024-25 the University will welcome more than 2,400 new first-year students in the different Degrees. Although the incorporation process is still open, so far 2,410 students have enrolled : 630 are students from Navarra, 959 from the rest of Spain and 821 are international students. In addition, another 390 students from 57 countries are participating in exchange programs this semester.

The workshop has counted with the participation in a roundtable of several students who have related their experience as university students and then Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, former President and president of the association of Friends of the University of Navarra, has intervened with a session entitled "The road you start". "You don't know what an incredible place you have come to," he said. "Every day, the 7,000 of us who work at the University of Navarra ask ourselves what more we can do to make this one of the best places in the world to study, and we move forward, but the protagonists are you, and you have to rise to the occasion."

That said, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero offered some guidelines to the students who are beginning their university years: that they should study and make an effort, that they should enjoy and share their joys and sorrows with others, that they should learn to debate with respect and be grateful."At campus you will notice the care and cleanliness of the green areas, of its buildings and facilities, but the most A of the University of Navarra is that it is full of happy people, smiling, hopeful people," he concluded.

Aimed at the students' parents, at 11.30 a.m. a roundtable with professors Asunción de la Iglesia (School of Law), José Hermida (School of Medicine), Raquel Cascales (School of Architecture and School of Philosophy and Letters) and Manuel Martín Algarra (School of Communication) began. At the same time, the students went to Amigos Building, where various sessions on academic resources, languages, sports, volunteer activities, Cultural Activities Office and other services of campus were organized.

For their part, the students of exchange attended an event at the Museum organized by International Office and committee International.

The academic year at the University of Navarra starts next Monday, September 2, except for the students of the School of Medicine, who have already started their classes this week.