From the morning of Thursday, 9 May, the projects of the 10 finalists of the 16th Contest “Ana M. Aroca Mengual Business Project” have been exposed in the Hall of the Faculty of Economics. Students of Vocational Education and Training programs and Bachillerato (Spanish upper secondary school education) from schools of Aldaia, Manises and Valencia have participated in this edition.

Promoted by the Vice-Dean of Participation, Volunteering and Equality, heading Prof. Cristina Crespo, it is a project coordinated by Prof. Pedro Canales and it is part of the activities of the Commission for Cooperation with Secondary Schools that Prof. Amparo Gimeno coordinates, with great support of the technical staff of the Faculty of Economics. It was developed collaborating with the Delegation for Incorporation to the University, the Chair for International Finance - Banco Santander, the Business and Humanism Chair and the Faculty of Economics.

The jury, consisting of professors of the Faculty of Economics and of the collaborating entities, has evaluated, among other aspects, “innovation, feasability, social commitment, sensitivity towards the environment, and the public performance”.

The four winning projects have been:

• “UBIMAX”, presented by the students Iván Andreu Suárez, Adolfo Manuel Salazar Dasilva y Ángela Jiménez Espinosa, and led by professor Javier Crespo Félix from La Canyada High School of Paterna, has obtained the Award sponsored by the Faculty of Economics.
• “AI ADVANCE PEST CONTROL”, presented by the students Alba Álvarez Tormos, Stella Bayona Sedeño, Santiago Martínez Lozano y Luisa Fernanda Robayo Julio, and led by professor Emili Marín Cerdá of the public centre of Training programs Vicente Blasco Ibáñez of Valencia, has obtained the Award sponsored by the Chair for international finance - Banco Santander”.
• “DIVERSITOYS”, presented by the students Marta Serra Vicens, Victoria Greses Giménez, Éinar Soler I Soler, Eric Sales Galindo, and led by professors Silvia Aparisi Requena and Cristina Gasó Ponce of the Ferrer i Guardia High School of Valencia has obtained the Award sponsored by the Business and Humanism Chair.​​​​​​​
• “PROTEG”, presented by students Noelia Ferrer Mínguez, Mireia Ferrer i Pardo, Pau Soria Mayen, Lucía Tordera Requena, and directed by professor Miriam Lorente Jiménez of the Enric Valor High School of Picanya, has obtained the Award sponsored by the Faculty of Economics.

Other finalist projects were awarded with six accesits, to recognise their excellent work and presentation.

The award ceremony was chaired by Joaquín Aldás, Viceprincipal of Planification, Quality and Information Technologies, Francisco Muñoz, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, José Constantino García, Head of the Chair for International Finances - Banco Santander” and Deyanira Sánchez, representative of the Business and Humanism Chair. José Miguel Lorente, Head of Institutions of Banco Santander, was also at the ceremony. All of them congratulated and thanked the participating students and professors for leading another year, highlighting their enterpreneurship, their commitment to social values, as well as courage and academical accuracy with which the finalists defended their business idea.

• Video Award Ceremony 16th Business Project Contest “Ana M. Aroca Mengual” (Link to video)
• Photo gallery 16th Business Project Contest “Ana M. Aroca Mengual” (Link to photo gallery)
• Reel 16th Business Project Contest “Ana M. Aroca Mengual” (Link to reel)

“From the Secondary School Commission, as well as from the collaborating institutions, we congratulate all the participants, especially the winners, and we encourage high schools to participate in the next edition”.