The institutional opening and closure has been led by the Vice-rector for Culture, Sports, and Social Link, Albert Moncusí, who appreciated the “loyalty” of students and described university as a space of long-life training and a space of connection with the territory. He emphasised a model based on the intergenerational link and in the function of the public service of the institution, aligned with its founding spirit.

One of the most emotional moments has been the farewell by María Dolores Pitarch, representative of the principal for UVSociety. Pitarch congratulated the work of the institution, all the team, professors and collaborative entities. She supported public education as a pillar of equality and reminded the recent strike of Valencian teachers, a reference that caused an ovation of the audience. 

The vice-rector agreed on this support for public education and highlighted the social function of the university as a cohesive motor in the territory. Both shared their teaching experience at La Nau Gran and in the programmes of the territory, an aspect highlighted also by Moncusí, who considered classes as a space of exchange among generations. He underlined that knowledge flows in both directions and remembered a significant anecdote: in some occasions, he gave lectures to some parents of his degree students. He described this continuity as a thread that connects biographies and strengthens the social link. 

During her farewell, Pitarch thanked the people involved for their work, wished luck to the new Government team of the Universitat de València and defended the value of continuous learning and its impact in social cohesion.

The session had the participation of Paco Alós, director of Responsabilidad Social y Relaciones Institucionales (Social Responsibility and Institutional Relations) of Caixa Popular, entity known for its on-going support to the programme and its contribution to the social inclusion of old people.

Music, chore and theatre – culture as a meeting point

The artistic programme occupied a main place. The Colla de Dolçaines i Percussió de la Universitat de València, The Club Coral de la Nau Gran, and the Grup de Teatre de La Nau Gran were involved in the cultural interventions of the Senate. The session consolidated the value of art as a tool of participation and cohesion within the programme.

Pompeii – archaeology, history and dissemination on stage

At the main hall, professor and archaeologist Llorenç Alapont gave the lecture “Pompeii’s secrets”, presented by professor Miguel Requena, who dressed up as Marco Venerio Secundio, a Roman entrepreneur linked to the production of Greek and Latin shows and keeper of the Venus temple in Pompeii. The combination of academic rigor and stage resources placed this moment among the funniest of the meeting. During the session, the carrying out of a 30-hours course about Pompeii has been announced for next year, in the framework of La Nau Gran, which will study in detail this dissemination line of the classical world.

Live Podcast “Veus grans”

The meeting included the recording of Veus grans (Great Voices), a podcats by UVSociety driven by the journalist Elena Morales.

The programme –with 25 episodes fortnightly– brings students and teachers together around the theme of lifelong learning. The project combines broadcasted episodes with others that are planned, with the objective of transferring educational experience to a public conversation format.  

The eloquence of the figures – growth and territory

Although the spirit of the event has been celebratory, the numbers help illustrate the path and reach of UVSociety. More than 5300 people currently participate in their programmes, with a stable presence in more than 25 municipalities. This reinforces the role of the Universitat de València as a tool for social cohesion and culture access, besides being consolidated as the Valencian public university with more territorial implantation. 

La Nau Gran –recognised this year by València’s city council in the 42nd Week of Older People– gathered more than 15.000 participants over its 25 years of experience. The programme enables people over the age of 50 to join the university community and to enjoy education and culture without having to study an undergraduate degree.