On YouTube and TikTok

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) premiered "Welcome to Uni" ('La bienvenida a la Uni') on 17 September at 11.30 am on its official TikTok and YouTube Shorts accounts. This new audiovisual series was created entirely by students and conceived from the outset for the vertical format and social media.

The series consists of 15 episodes, which will be released progressively until 1 October. It explores, from a youthful, relatable and everyday perspective, the first experiences of those starting university: the first lectures, new friendships, nerves, doubts and the situations that come with arriving at university.

One of the most distinctive features of the project is that the entire creative process has been carried out by UPV students, without the use of artificial intelligence. From the conception of the idea and the writing of the script to production and filming, the project has been developed entirely by the team responsible for the series.

Almost a year's work

The series is directed by Samuel Hernández Esquembre and Vega Medina Guaita, who graduated last June in the Double Degree in Telecommunications, Sound and Image Engineering + Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Communication at the UPV. Both began working on the series' writing and development in September, and the process spanned the entire academic year. The production phase began in January, and filming started in April.

The project was initially developed at the Gandia Campus, where the ideas, the script and much of the creative concept were conceived and 'cooked up', before production was subsequently moved to the two campuses involved in the series: Gandia and Vera.

The cast features six UPV students – four from the Gandia Campus and two from the Vera Campus – who bring to life the main characters in the various stories and situations outlined in the series: Andrea, Xavi, Carla, Esther, Julián and Eric.

The creative aspect of the project is enhanced by the involvement of other students from the university itself. The poster was designed by Lewis Sánchez, a fifth-year student on the same degree programme as the directors, whilst the series' logo was designed by Guillem Salelles Morell, also a graduate of the Double Degree in Telecommunications, Sound and Image Engineering and Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Communication. Technical support was also provided by fellow students on the same degree programme, including Hugo Igarza, Miriam Molina, Adina Dan, Inés López and Olga Pérez.

'Welcome to Uni' ('La bienvenida a la Uni') was created by the UPV's Communication Area, with the support of the Vice-Rectorate for Communications, as a commitment to new audiovisual formats and to the talent, creativity and initiative of the students at the Universitat Politècnica de València.

New narratives

The series also represents a new way of bringing the university closer to its student community and to those about to begin their studies, using the narrative conventions typical of digital platforms and placing the students themselves at the heart of the story.

One of the aims of the series is to encourage reflection on certain attitudes and behaviours that may arise in university life. To this end, the fiction presents a diverse range of characters and situations, featuring both positive and negative behaviours. Also, it shows how certain behaviours can be redirected. In this way, the series aims to entertain and connect with its audience, whilst also highlighting recognisable situations and offering a critical perspective on those attitudes that can hinder respectful coexistence.

With "Welcome to Uni" ('La bienvenida a la Uni'), the UPV is committed to portraying university life from the inside, through the eyes of those who experience it, while exploring new forms of communication tailored to the habits and language of the younger generations.

The 15 episodes of the series will be released progressively on the UPV's official TikTok and YouTube Shorts accounts until 1 October.