The UAB holds the 17th PhD diplomas and extraordinary awards ceremony
The UAB played host to the 17th PhD diplomas and extraordinary awards ceremony in an institutional event organised by the School of Doctoral Studies and Alumni UAB. The ceremony gives recognition to the academic efforts and research excellence of new PhD graduates. Montserrat López, president of the Board of Trustees' Academic Committee, participated in the ceremony in representation of the Board of Trustees with the institutional speech and the handing out of diplomas and awards.
The ceremony, held on 22 May in the Arnau de Vilanova room of the Exe Campus Hotel, brought together members of the university community, family members, and institutional representatives in an act of recognition of one of the most relevant academic stages of a person's research career.
The event began with a welcome speech by UAB Rector Javier Lafuente, and with interventions by Vice-Rector for Research Assumpció Malgosa, and by Montserrat López, president of the Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees. During her speech, López highlighted the transformative role of PhD research and the importance of connecting knowledge with society. “The new PhD graduates are an essential expression of what a university means: creating new, rigorous and transformative knowledge,” she emphasised.
She also claimed the value of human capital in a context of accelerated technological transformation, pointing out that “technology can accelerate processes, but it is the people who provide criteria, critical sense, creativity and responsibility”. In this sense, she highlighted the role of the Board of Trustees as a bridge between the university and society, with the aim of strengthening the impact and social projection of the knowledge generated at the UAB.
The ceremony also included a presentation by Dr Maite Carrassón, professor of the Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, who acted as the sponsor of the event, as well as a speech by Dr Iris Parra on behalf of the graduates receiving their PhD diploma or extraordinary award.
One of the highlights of the event was the conferral of diplomas and the presentation of the PhD Excellence Awards, which recognise PhD theses with particularly outstanding academic and scientific achievements. The ceremony concluded with the institutional closing address by the rector and a performance of Gaudeamus Igitur by the UAB Choir.
With this ceremony, the UAB and the Board of Trustees reaffirm their commitment to research excellence, PhD training, and the recognition of academic talent as key elements for scientific and social progress.