Magistrales 2026. The Gandia campus hosted the event at which the UPV recognized the high school teachers most highly rated by their students.
The UPV’s Gandia campus hosted the ninth edition of “Magistrales,” the event through which the Polytechnic University of Valencia pays tribute to those who, through their dedication, hard work, and generosity, transform lives: teachers. It was held at the Gandia campus for the first time, as that is where the UPV offers the Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Teaching. And the main auditorium was filled with renowned teachers alongside eager aspiring teachers.
For this ninth edition, the UPV selected 13 women and 12 men, as always based on a survey conducted among first-year students. It is the students themselves who nominate a professor by name—someone who has made a lasting impression on them due to their exceptional abilities, a teacher they remember for their dedication, patience, commitment, and ability to motivate students. Over the course of its nine editions, the UPV has recognized a total of 225 teachers from 160 schools throughout the Valencian Community.
As in previous years, there were teachers from nearly every corner of the Valencian Community: Sedaví, Godella, Albaida, Calpe, Oliva, Betxí, Alcoy, La Vall d’Uixó, Vilamarxant… Once again, most of the award winners are experts in technical subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Technical Drawing…), while a few teach Biology, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Valencian, Accounting, and Business and Business Model Design. They come from public, state-subsidized, and private schools, as well as from high schools and vocational training programs.
“You have to be honest with a student and tell them: ‘You can do better.’”
On behalf of all the honourees of this 2025 edition, Francesc Sanfélix, from IES María Ibars in Dénia, took the floor. Sanfélix sought to highlight the value of effort, perseverance, and resilience. “We have often confused educating with overprotecting. But there is no learning without effort, nor growth without discomfort. Learning is not just about content: it is about emotion, effort, frustration, and overcoming challenges.”
Sanfélix recalled when, in his first year of BUP, a teacher sent him to retake the course in September and how angry he felt. Years later, he came to understand it. That teacher wasn’t harsh—she was demanding. She was doing her job responsibly. “To educate is to tell a student honestly: You can do better. Because students don’t just need understanding; they also need boundaries, role models, rigour, and, above all, truth.”
“You get a student to stop watching the clock and start looking toward their future”
Iván Sevilla, a student in the Computer Engineering program at the UPV, responded. “In a few years, the students sitting in these seats today will be building infrastructure, programming systems, creating works of art, or running a company. But it’s only fair to look back and remember how it all began. Because the spark that made us believe we could be here today was kindled in your classrooms.”
Sevilla added: “Your methods may differ, but the result you achieve is the same: you get a 17-year-old student to stop watching the clock, waiting for the bell to ring, and start looking toward his own future with ambition. For all of this, thank you. Thank you for seeing our potential. Thank you for having the patience to guide us.”
“Nothing is possible without the preliminary steps”
Rector José E. Capilla, who presided over the ceremony, emphasized this point: “The Polytechnic University of Valencia is what it is thanks to its students, and those students have been educated and inspired by you. For all of this, thank you. Nothing—absolutely nothing—is possible without the steps that came before.”
