Opening lecture

The Gandia campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) held its traditional opening lecture, which brought together students and staff from the campus, as well as authorities and representatives from institutions and businesses in the Safor region, to mark the start of the 2026–2027 academic year.

The event was presided over by the Rector of the UPV, José E. Capilla, who expressed his support for the university community and those affected by "the terrible storm". He also reiterated "the UPV's willingness to collaborate, as it did with various organisations following the storm of 2024".

About the new academic year, Capilla highlighted the positive trend in enrolment figures and noted that "we are moving in the right direction. It is a positive trend that we must continue to consolidate over the coming years".

The Rector also emphasised the importance of promoting a critical and responsible use of new technologies. "At university, teaching students how to use these technologies is inseparable from teaching them to question their results," he stated, arguing for the need to train professionals capable of harnessing artificial intelligence whilst understanding its limitations.

New degree in Marketing and Advertising and the establishment of the Advisory Council

The director of the Gandia campus, Vicenç Almenar, highlighted the growth in enrolment and noted that it aligns with the objective of 'taking care of what we have and making the most of its potential'. He also emphasised that the increase in student numbers helps to enrich university life and strengthen the campus's connection with its local community.

Among the key announcements, Almenar revealed that the campus is working to launch a degree in Marketing and Advertising, which would complement the existing degrees in Business and Digital Technology, as well as the Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Communication. The new programme aims to meet the demand for social science studies and to create synergies among the three degree programmes.

The possibility of incorporating the 2+3 training model linked to Vocational Training into certain degree programmes will also be explored, following the initiative of the UPV's Alcoy campus, to strengthen this route into higher education.

Another new development will be the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council, designed as a forum for collaboration between the university and the region's business, industrial and logistics sectors. This body will help to identify the region's training needs and analyse which undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as specific training programmes, the campus can offer.

Almenar also recalled that this academic year marks the 25th anniversary of the Audiovisual Communication degree programme, which he described as "a turning point in the campus's history due to its combination of technology and creativity and its contribution to sustaining university activity during periods of lower enrolment".

The director concluded his speech with a reflection on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the importance of harnessing its potential without sacrificing independent thought.

Rocío Vidal invites us to think critically in a world of noise.

The journalist and scientist Rocío Vidal, known on social media as Schrödinger's Cat, delivered the opening lecture, entitled "Thinking in a world of noise". In her talk, she addressed the challenges of the digital society. She reflected on how information overload, disinformation and immediacy shape the way we obtain information, understand reality and interact with one another. "We are drifting towards a uniformity of content where talent—the very essence—is becoming increasingly important," noted the science communicator.

Fake news and artificial intelligence were major parts of the talk, which highlighted the growing difficulty of distinguishing reliable information from misleading content, as well as the effects of overstimulation on concentration and critical thinking.

Vidal also warned of the risks of giving a platform to voices that spread ideas without subjecting them to scrutiny. "Pseudo-thinkers are being given a platform, with no one to challenge them, and there are young people who are feeling very lost," she stated.

Faced with a scenario in which artificial intelligence can generate content that appears realistic and is difficult to detect as manipulation, the journalist argued for the need to develop tools and criteria for evaluating information. "We must not be afraid of what is to come, but rather see the opportunities," she said.

In the face of these challenges, Vidal emphasised the value of science, art and knowledge, as well as the importance of setting aside time for reading, handwriting and reflection. Through her lecture, she invited the university community to question the content they receive and to uphold critical thinking in a society characterised by constant connection and reaction.

Recognition for campus staff and participation by pupils from Calderón School

The inaugural lecture included the presentation of the campus's annual report, which details the activities carried out during the 2025–2026 academic year in the areas of teaching and research, as well as the cultural and outreach initiatives and other activities boosted by the centre.

During the event, tribute was also paid to campus staff who had retired over the past year, in recognition of their professional careers and contribution to university life.

And as a new feature, the ceremony included a string quartet composed of students from the Gandia campus and a performance by the choir of the María de los Ángeles Suárez de Calderón School in El Grau de Gandia. Fourth-year ESO pupils brought the event to a close with a rendition of Gaudeamus igitur, the university anthem traditionally sung at major academic celebrations.