On Tuesday 28 January, UIC Barcelona held the traditional University Grants Ceremony on the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students. For the fourth consecutive year, the institution organised this event which showcases academic excellence, commitment to talent and hard work. The event brings together students receiving grants for the first time and grant holders graduating this year, as well as the companies and institutions that contribute to the University's Grants and Financial Aid Programme, through the #NoTalentWithoutAFuture campaign.

Dr Alfonso Méndiz, rector of UIC Barcelona, opened the event by highlighting the crucial role of students in the future of society, “Today we celebrate a very significant achievement, not only for you, the students, but also for the university and for the companies that support this initiative.” In his speech, Dr Méndiz stressed that excellence at UIC Barcelona goes beyond grades, “It is the ability to think critically, to look for solutions, to act with resilience and to make what has been learned a tool to positively impact the world around us,” he explained.

The event was attended by representatives of some of the institutions that collaborate in the University's Grants and Financial Aid Programme: ELIA, Enterprise for Large International Architecture S.L, Fundació Barraquer, Fundació Damm, Fundació Maria Pou. Lunet, Fundació Maria Teresa Rodó, Fundación Nemesio Diez, Mi Fundación Álex, Mullor Facility Services, Santander Universidades and Torrella Ingeniería-Arquitectura. Special mention was also made during the event to all those individuals who also collaborate with the University's grants and financial aid programme.

Natalia Lorenzo, project coordinator of the Nemesio Diez Foundation, took part in the event as a representative of the collaborating entities. The Foundation awards grants to medical students to train professionals who are “not only competent, but committed to comprehensive patient care,” said Lorenzo. “We support students who, aside from being doctors, are people with a deep vocation of service and care for others,” said the representative from the Nemesio Diez Foundation.

Students also participated in the event. Andreu Boix, a student on the Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences, stressed the importance of the grants received for his studies, “Thanks to these grants, I can access the highest quality education, which gives me the means to make a real impact on people's lives and develop my own professional project”.

In turn, Héctor Muñoz, an alumnus of UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, spoke about his experience as a student and his professional path after finishing his studies. Héctor described how the university has been a fundamental pillar in his personal and professional development “thanks to the close personal approach of the professors”, who helped him to discover new horizons.

Finally, Dr Esther Jiménez, vice-rector of the UIC Barcelona University Community, closed the round of speeches by highlighting the efforts of all those involved in the training of students: from companies, families, faculties and the students themselves. She also made a special mention of the University's mentoring programme, which accompanies students during their time at UIC Barcelona, and called on students to get involved in the scholarship programme in the future, when they become alumni. 

Nadia Mafara, a fourth-year journalism grant student, was in charge of presenting the event and also received her diploma.

During the ceremony, more than 150 students received their diplomas from company representatives and were accompanied by Dr Josep María Torné, manager of UIC Barcelona, and Belén Castro, secretary general of the University, a symbolic gesture that reflects UIC Barcelona's commitment to talent and academic excellence. 

This academic year, 634 students have benefited from the University's Grants and Financial Aid programme. With this grants ceremony, the University reaffirms its commitment to talent and academic excellence, in line with its mission to humanise the transformation of society.