The Universitat de València officially opened the 2026-2027 academic year at the solemn act of the Opening of the Academic Year ceremony, held in the main hall of La Nau. The Principal of the Universitat de València, Juan Luis Gandía, presided over the ceremony, accompanied at the presidential table by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities Diana Morant, the regional secretary for Universities Esther Gómez, the Principal of the Universitat Politècnica de València José E. Capilla, and the Principal of the Universitat Jaume I Jesús Lancis.
The opening act has been a turning point after bringing together the largest number of doctors wearing the traditional academic cap and gown, as well as representing the Valencian society and a large representation of the Universitat de València, with former principals, faculty deans, heads of research institutes and departments, directors and representatives of university services, and student representatives.
The opening act of the academic year began with the entrance of the academic procession and a performance of Veni Creator by the Orfeó Universitari. Subsequently, the Principal of the Universitat de València, Juan Luis Gandía, opened the session.
During his first speech of the opening act, the Principal described the Universitat de València as a public, autonomous, and democratic university at the service of society. He underlined that its objectives –teaching, research and an active commitment to the well-being and progress of society– require “sufficient and predictable funding”. In this regard, he welcomed the 2026-2029 Long-term Funding Agreement as a step forward, but called for its effective implementation and sufficient resources to address both the ordinary responsibilities and the specific needs of public universities.
Gandía reaffirmed the commitment of the Universitat de València to public education and reminded that the Government Council approved last 9 June, unanimously, an institutional statement “in support of the demands of the educational community and in defence of public education”. The Principal underlined that defending public universities also means supporting the entire public education system and guaranteeing the conditions necessary for it to fulfil its missions. In this context, he expressed concern on the changes arisen in the Educational Inspection and warned that they should not “influence teaching activity, provoke self-censorship or place teachers under suspicion”.
Science policy also had a main place in the speech. The Principal highlighted that research is part of the university’s teaching mission and called for stability for the staff, support for the career development of young researchers, and resources to update scientific infrastructure. He also stressed the necessity to reduce the administrative burden that takes time away from research, teaching, and transfer of knowledge. He also emphasised the importance of obtaining resources at national and international areas to participate in competitive research projects, and the necessity to face the generational renewal of the university staff through long-term planning that enables the recruitment of young talents.
Furthermore, the new academic year incorporated the development of new structures and the institutional planning. The Principal announced the implementation of the 2027-2032 Strategic Plan, drawn up with the participation of the university community, and placed students at the centre of the university life through the creation of the Observatory on Students and the stregnthening of its participatory bodies. He also announced the forthcoming introduction of the electronic voting and the elaboration of an institutional framework under the challenges that artificial intelligence poses in teaching and research, among other matters.
The first choice in the Valencian university system
The general secretary of the Universitat de València, María José Aradilla, presented an excerpt from the report corresponding to the 2025-2026 academic year, in which the main initiatives carried out by the institution during the last academic exercise are collected. More than 46.000 students, 56 degrees, and 13 double-degrees –among others– turn the Universitat de València into the first choice among applicants seeking admission to the Valencian public university system. Furthermore, the Universitat de València, as she recalled, is also an international reference in research, mobility and equality programmes, as well as in sport and cultural milestones achieved last year, which are available on the website of the General Secretary.
Professor Pilar Serra gave the masterful lecture of the act, titled Neuroplasticitat, funció i qualitat de vida: la fisioteràpia neurològica de precisió (Neuroplasticity, function and life quality – the precise neurological physiotherapy).
During her intervention, Serra reflected upon the change of paradigm in neurological rehabilitation. In contrast to the old model based on rest and reduction of spasticity, scientific evidence proved that our nervous system maintains its capacity for reorganisation throughout life. Neuroplasticity enables the creation and modification of neuronal connections through appropriate stimuli, particularly through intensive, specific and task-oriented rehabilitation. Based on this knowledge, Serra advocates for precise neurological and personalised physiotherapy aimed at recovering the maximum functionality and autonomy. To make this care possible, Serra calls for the strengthening of the physiotherapy within the public system and underlines that, in the Valencian Community, there is one primary care physiotherapist for every 26.830 residents, “a figure that contrasts with the growing need for rehabilitation services identified by the WHO”.
The regional secretary for Universities, Esther Gómez, spoke on behalf of the Generalitat Valenciana. In her speech, Gómez emphasised the strength of the Universitat de València. In the 2026 Shanghai ranking, the university is placed among the top 400 in the world, fourth in Spain and first in the Valencian Community. She also underlined that the main milestone of the legislature is the 2026-2029 Long-term Funding Agreement, subscribed unanimously in October 2025 with the five public universities, a pact that wasn’t reached since 2010.
Among other data, she recalled the budget of the Generalitat for 2026: more than 1.097 million of euros in ordinary transfers to the whole public university system, something that represents an increase of the 33% regarding 2023 and the highest endowment of history, to which 40 million are added to lower enrolment taxes and funds of the María Goyri programme to incorporate 707 assistant professors/doctors co-financed by the Ministry. In this scenario, “the Universitat de València is the institution that highlights the most in competing and winning. During 2025, their researchers presented more than 2.100 requests to the calls of the Generalitat and they obtained almost 1000 grants for more than 27 million euros, so practically one out of two granted requests were for the UV”.
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, encouraged not to fall into the “solastalgia”, understood as sadness or feeling of loss under the worsening of what we consider of our own. She defended the necessity to act in order to maintain and reinforce the public system. The minister reported that, in the last decade, the funding of the public universities has increased barely a 5 %, compared to the 127 % of the private universities. In addition, she recalled that in the last 25 years, any public institution has been funded, compared to the 30 private universities created in this period. In her view, the lack of public positions –with minimum grades above 12 points– forces lots of young people to assume the cost of the private enrolment or to give up their vocation. Morant closed the intervention with a straight defense towards the equality of opportunities.
At the end of his intervention, Juan Luis Gandía officially considered the 2026-2027 academic year of the Universitat de València as opened.
The ceremony concluded with the performance of Gaudeamus Igitur carried out by the Orfeó Universitari.
An academic act with more than five centuries of tradition
At the Universitat de València, this act is celebrated since its creation in 1499 and takes place at the historical main hall of the foundation building of the UVEG, currently called La Nau Cultural Centre, in the heart of the city of València. The main hall is an emblematic space of the 17th century, remodeled in the 19th century, and adapted to recent technologies.
It consists of a solemn act because the people with an academic condition of doctorate compose the delegation that wears the traditional cap and gown. In addition, during the act that follows the traditional university ceremonial, a lectio (masterful lesson) is taught offering a vision about the state of an object of research in the Universitat de València. This lesson is requested to a professor of the centre (faculty or school) that assumes the responsibility on a rotating shift.
Classes start next Monday
The degrees of the Universitat de València begin their lessons this Monday, 14 September. This year, a total of 36.885 students study a degree or double degree, a number that will increase with the people enrolled in official post-graduate degrees and specific degrees –6.654 in these moments, a number that will be increased in the following weeks–, besides the doctorate students. In addition, 2.217 Erasmus students have recently been incorporated, of which 101 of the International Programme and 251 of the SICUE programme will also be incorporated.
With these data, the Universitat de València is reaffirmed as the first option for students that access to the Valencian public university system and remains at the top of the mobility programmes.
