30-01-2026
The Francisco de Vitoria University held the solemn academic graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Experimental Sciences Class of 2026, in which nearly 300 students from the bachelor’s programs in Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Biomedicine, and Biomedical Engineering completed a key stage of their university education.
The UFV Sports Center hosted the graduation ceremony for students from the School of Experimental Sciences
The event took place at the UFV campus in Madrid and brought together university officials, faculty, students, and family members for a ceremony marking the end of the graduates’ college years and the start of a new chapter in their personal and professional lives. The graduation could also be watched live via streaming.
Beyond its academic significance, this event serves as an occasion for the entire university community to come together and celebrate, and it reflects UFV’s commitment to a well-rounded education that combines scientific excellence, personal guidance, and a deep dedication to service.
Nearly 300 students completed a key stage of their college education.
Maite Iglesias, Dean of the Faculty of Experimental Sciences at UFV
The event began with the introduction of the presiding panel, followed by welcoming remarks from the dean of the School of Experimental Sciences, Maite Iglesias Badiola, who invited the students to reflect on the journey they have taken since arriving at the university and to recognize the value of the community they have built over the years.
In her remarks, the dean highlighted the university experience as a shared journey marked by hard work, high standards, and mutual support: “We have built a close-knit UFV family through dedication, openness, hard work, mutual respect, and humility.”
“A family,” he emphasized, “is not merely a place where we live together, but a place where we learn to sustain one another: ‘The family binds us personally, socially, professionally, and morally, and it also commits us to sustaining one another, supporting one another, and walking together.’”
The dean emphasized that this approach to higher education is part of UFV’s identity and leaves a lasting impression that stays with students long after they graduate: “The University is already part of your history, just as you are part of the University’s history.”
Finally, he made a point of explicitly acknowledging the role of families and teachers in the graduates’ journey, noting that their achievement is the result of a shared effort and a community that has supported, challenged, and cared for them throughout the entire educational process.
Juan Bueren Roncero, class patron
The class patron, Juan Bueren Roncero, director of the Biomedical Innovation Unit at CIEMAT and the CIBER for Rare Diseases, and coordinator of the Joint Unit for Advanced Therapies at CIEMAT and the Jiménez Díaz Foundation’s Institute for Health Research, addressed the graduates with a message focused on perseverance, the pursuit of truth, and the responsibility inherent in professional practice in the biomedical field.
During his speech, he encouraged the students not to settle for quick fixes or the easy way out: “Don’t settle for easy solutions; seek the truth. There will be times when it seems impossible, but persevere.” He also emphasized the need to always keep the focus on the person: “In the field of biomedical sciences, we cannot lose sight of the needs that surround us, and our focus must always be on the patient.”
A message that directly appealed to the ethical and human dimensions of the scientific and healthcare professions, reminding the graduates that scientific progress only takes on its full meaning when it is directed toward caring for and serving others. The guest of honor noted that the true value of scientific success lies not in individual recognition, but in its ability to serve the common good and those who are suffering.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the Optimus 2025 Award, which was awarded to Pablo Ledesma Roncero, a student in the dual Bachelor's Degree Biotechnology and Pharmacy, in recognition of a career that combines academic excellence, a humanistic education, and social commitment.
In his remarks, the honoree reflected on the class’s early days and the journey they had taken to reach this day: “Don’t let the enthusiasm that brought us here fade away—that enthusiasm has been the driving force that has brought us to this moment.” He also highlighted the importance of effort, commitment, and teamwork: “Talent can take us far, but it is consistent effort and commitment that truly sustain us.”
He also wanted to thank his professors and mentors for the education he received: “Thank you for teaching me not only science, but also for reminding me that behind every piece of data there is a person, that rigour is rigour at odds with humanity, and that our work only makes sense when it is put at the service of society.”
Finally, he stated that this recognition is not an end in itself, but rather a renewed commitment: “Science truly advances only when it does not forget whom it serves.”
University President Daniel Sada presents the Optimus 2025 Award to Pablo Ledesma Roncero, a student in the dual Bachelor's Degree Biotechnology and Pharmacy
On behalf of the graduating class, Marta Gómez Crespo, a student in Bachelor's Degree Biomedicine, and Inés Vila Barallobre, a student in the Bachelor's Degree Pharmacy, addressed the audience with a speech marked by gratitude and a look toward the future.
The students expressed special gratitude for the support of their families, professors, and friends, noting that their time at university had also been a period of camaraderie, friendship, and shared learning. Looking ahead, they acknowledged the uncertainty inherent in the start of their professional lives: “For the first time, many of us are facing a future that doesn’t have a script.” An uncertainty that, far from being an obstacle, they interpreted as an opportunity: “Having doubts is not a problem; it is a privilege. It means we have options, that we can explore different paths and grow.” The speech concluded with a call to practice the profession through service: “The world needs not only brilliant professionals, but courageous people with a sense of service and the willingness to put their talent and knowledge at the service of others.” “Today we are not leaving here with a set plan; we are leaving with something far more valuable: we are leaving knowing that the world needs not only brilliant professionals but also dedicated people—courageous individuals with a sense of service and a willingness to put our talent, research, and knowledge at the service of others,” the students concluded.
Marta Gómez Crespo, a student in Bachelor's Degree Biomedicine, and Inés Vila Barallobre, a student in the Bachelor's Degree Pharmacy, represented the students
Father Rafael Pou, L.C., representative of the Francisco de Vitoria University Foundation
The representative of the Francisco de Vitoria University Foundation, Father Rafael Pou, L.C., offered a profound reflection on the exceptional value of life and the responsibility borne by those who devote themselves to its study and care.
In his speech, he reminded the audience that life is an extraordinary and fragile phenomenon: “What is mysterious is not death; what is mysterious is life.” Addressing the graduates, he encouraged them never to lose their sense of wonder and reverence for the work they will be doing: “Always enter the laboratories with a trembling heart and a sense of awe.” And he emphasized that knowledge and power only make sense when they are directed toward higher values: “The problem was never knowledge, but rather forgetting the sense of reverence and losing sight of the values that power was meant to serve.” And he shared a request with them: “May you, in short, be the men and women that Francisco de Vitoria University envisions when it invites you to put your talents at the service of the human revolution, when it invites you to seek the truth.”
The president of Francisco de Vitoria University, Daniel Sada
The president of Francisco de Vitoria University, Daniel Sada, closed the academic ceremony with a speech focused on purpose, servant leadership, and gratitude.
In his remarks, he encouraged the graduates to be advocates for solidarity in the society that awaits them: “There can be no sustainable progress when people are excluded.” He reminded them that a person’s true worth is not measured solely by professional achievements: “The people who matter most to you in life will judge you by other things: ethics, listening, service, and generosity.” He also emphasized the importance of living with meaning and purpose: “The most important question in your life is not what or how, but why.” The rector concluded with an invitation to gratitude and to maintain ties with the university: “Never stop being part of the UFV family. This is your home, and we will always be by your side.”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional singing of Gaudeamus Igitur, bringing to a close a day marked by emotion, gratitude, and the celebration of a graduating class poised to practice their profession with rigour , human depth, and a commitment to service.
