doctoral inauguration ceremony 2024-25

María Iraburu: "You are more necessary than ever. If the improvement of society has always depended on this commitment to knowledge, we are at a time when this is an urgent necessity".

Birretes, mucetas and colorful fistfuls walked the corridors of the Central Building during the investiture ceremony of new doctors, which took place last Friday, June 6, in the Magna classroom .

Coming from 33 countries, each of the 181 new PhDs who have defended their thesis during the last academic year have developed their research in fields as diverse as biosanitary, humanistic, social sciences, engineering, Economics, law, Education or ecclesiastical. Countless hours of study, research, readings, essay on scientific articles and conversations with colleagues have resulted in thousands of pages turned into doctoral thesis . 

"The work of these years will remain engraved with a special force, even if with the passage of time it will not be the most recognized or cited," said the president, Maria Iraburu, in her speech. Making a reference letter, in addition, to the urgent need for a commitment to knowledge, she referred to how the study involves all the dimensions of a person. "You are more necessary than ever. If the improvement of society has always depended on this commitment to knowledge, we are at a time when this is an urgent need... This is, above all, an invitation to reflect on what is specifically human".

Carmen Sanmartín, professor of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition and godmother of the graduating class, congratulated the doctors for having achieved the "highest academicDegree awarded by the university". 

In her speech, she stressed that achievements are not made individually, and encouraged the doctors to thank their families, thesis supervisors and also the generosity of the Friends association . She also advised them not to consider work as the only dimension in their lives: "You should not give up rest, family and taking care of your friends," she said. She acknowledged that human success is desirable, but "without being seduced by it. 

In the same vein, Carmen Basanta, PhD from the School of Education and Psychology and in charge of dedicating a few words to all those present on behalf of the entire graduating class, shared with all those present that fruitfulness in research, as understood by Professor José María Albareda, President of the University between 1960 and 1966, "does not seek recognition or immediate performance", but is a "silent, calm fruitfulness, which is offered as a loving service to the world". 

He also defined the doctoral thesis process as "an act of faith": "Throughout these three, four, or even five years of doctorate, what has
life have been continuous and small acts of faith".