The Gandia Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) held its traditional inaugural conference to mark the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. The event brought together students, staff, authorities, and representatives from institutions and businesses in the Safor region.
UPV Rector José E. Capilla presided over the ceremony, expressing support for the university community and those affected by the recent dana (storm), and reaffirming the UPV's commitment to collaboration. Capilla highlighted the positive trend in enrollment, stating, "we are moving in the right direction," and emphasized the importance of fostering critical and responsible use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Campus Director Vicenç Almenar announced key academic developments. The campus is working on launching a new degree in Marketing and Advertising, which will complement existing programs in Business and Digital Technology and Audiovisual Communication, aiming to create synergies and meet the demand for social science studies. The possibility of incorporating a 2+3 vocational training model is also being explored.
Another significant development will be the first meeting to establish the Campus Advisory Council. This forum for collaboration between the university and the region's business, industrial, and logistics sectors will help identify training needs and analyze the campus's academic offerings. Almenar also noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Audiovisual Communication degree.
The inaugural conference included the presentation of the campus's annual report, a tribute to retired staff, and performances by a string quartet of Gandia campus students and the choir from the María de los Ángeles Suárez de Calderón school. Fourth-year secondary students concluded the event by performing the university anthem, Gaudeamus igitur.
