UNED Dénia, Xàbia, and Benidorm Inaugurate the 2024-25 Academic Year

UNED (National University of Distance Education) in Dénia, Xàbia, and Benidorm inaugurated the 2024-2025 academic year with a ceremony held at the Benidorm Town Hall auditorium, marking the 30th anniversary of the centre's establishment in the city.

The ceremony commenced with the performance of 'Veni Creator Spiritus' and a minute of silence was observed for the victims of the recent DANA, setting a solemn tone for the event. The centre's secretary, José Monserrat, presented the academic report of the previous year, highlighting the collective efforts of students, faculty, and administrative staff in achieving educational and social commitment goals.

The inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. Emilio Ambrosio Flores, a professor at UNED, who presented a talk titled 'Psychobiology of Pleasure', which captivated the audience's interest.

During the event, diplomas were awarded to graduates, alongside prizes from the Hammond Foundation and special recognitions for students in the UNED Senior program. The awards were presented by the Councillor for Education, María Teresa Moreno, the Vice-Rector of Centres, Jesús de Andrés, Dr. Emilio Ambrosio, and the centre's director, Raquel Martí.

In a particularly emotional moment, homage was paid to the three decades of history of the Benidorm centre, highlighting its impact on promoting accessible and quality university education in the Marina Baixa region. Centre staff, Esmeralda González and María Dolores Colmenero, reflected on the past years, tracing the journey through various locations to their current home at the Salt de l'Aigua educational complex.

A video also reminisced about past times with nostalgic photographs and pointed towards an academic future that meets students' needs. Acknowledgements were made to retired faculty and those with over 30 years of dedication to the centre.

Notable speeches included those by Raquel Martí, director of UNED Dénia, Xàbia, and Benidorm; Antonio Pérez, President of the Alicante Provincial Council; and Dr. Jesús de Andrés Sánchez, Vice-Rector of Associated Centres at UNED, who emphasized the importance of this anniversary as a symbol of UNED's ongoing commitment to educational and social development.

The event also served as a gesture of solidarity towards those affected by the recent DANA in Valencia. The Choir of Professional Education Students from the José Pérez Barceló Conservatory in Benidorm performed the Valencian Community anthem in tribute to the victims, concluding the ceremony with the university anthem Gaudeamus Igitur.

The academic ceremony for the 2024-25 year reaffirms UNED's role as a leader in distance university education, offering inclusive and transformative educational opportunities throughout its three-decade history in Benidorm.