The facilities of the Gandia campus of UPV were the setting for an emotional gathering on September 18th, bringing together those who finished their studies in Sound and Image Telecommunication Engineering 25 and 30 years ago. More than a hundred people participated in this celebration.
From the organization, Belén Arrogante highlighted the importance of these events, stating that “it allows us to reunite people who shared a very important stage of their lives”.
Since the beginning of studies at the Gandia campus of UPV, a total of 1,917 people (1,459 men and 458 women) have graduated in Sound and Image Telecommunication Engineering. Classes began in October 1993, marking the start of university telecommunication training at the campus, as emphasized by the campus director, Vicenç Almenar. The first graduating class was in 1996.
The coordinator of Alumni UPV, a network with over 85,000 members, added that “each of these individuals has built their own professional and personal trajectory”. She stressed that the network “allows maintaining contact, reconnecting with former colleagues, expanding professional networks, knowledge, and generating new opportunities”, and that gatherings like the one held clearly demonstrate what an Alumni community can contribute.
The day was marked by shared experiences between faculty and UPV Alumni, who reflected on the evolution of the degree and the campus itself. Alumni Victoria González (graduated in 1999), Susana Bañuelos (graduated in 2004), and José María Vázquez participated, offering their perspectives from the experience of the early years.
Victoria González, co-founder of Ionclinics & Deionic, enthusiastically recalled that era, stating that “it seemed like being a telecom engineer gave you almost superpowers in the job market”. She commented that returning to campus is an opportunity to remember their beginnings and discover how far their professional paths have taken them.
Susana Bañuelos, dean of the Official College of Telecommunication Graduates and Technical Engineers of the Valencian Community and CEO of BSC Solutions, explained that she chose the Gandia campus seeking “a balance between tranquility and enjoyment, a place she could feel like her own home and, practically, an excuse to gain independence”. She humorously recalled the challenges of some subjects but highlighted the good times shared.
The reunion concluded with laughter, commemorative photographs, and the shared pride of belonging to the Gandia campus, which Susana Bañuelos summarized as “the best campus in the world”.
