We celebrate the Class of 2026 with a Graduation Ceremony marked by talent, excellence and international outlook

CUNEF Universidad held the Graduation Ceremony for its Class of 2026, marking the graduation of 700 students across 11 different degree programmes split among the School of Business, Economics and Law, the School of Engineering, and CUNEF Affiliated Centre. The ceremony brought together academic authorities, representatives from the business and financial industries, and the students’ families. It showcased the university’s history and the diversification of its degree offering, and included testimonials from the students themselves.

During the event, the students were presented with their stoles, and the recipients of the Extraordinary End-of-Degree Awards and the students in the top 5% of their year were honoured for their academic performance.

The ceremony gave the floor to the graduates themselves, with three students speaking on behalf of the Class of 2026 to share their university experience: Jaime de Pinedo Badías, from the School of Business, Economics and Law; Jaime Ruiz López-Alvarado, from the School of Engineering; and Daniela García Sastre, on behalf of the last class of CUNEF Affiliated Centre.

The sponsor of the Class of 2026 was Antonio Huertas Mejías, Chairman of MAPFRE,  who used the latest project by the singer Rosalía as the central theme of his address. The title, LUX, which means “light” in Latin, is a reference to its symbolic dimension of knowledge, truth and wisdom; from this, he drew numerous lessons on life and responsible leadership. He also urged the students to discover their unique value proposition: “Make sure to define yourselves before the job market does, and trust your strengths: companies are looking for people who know who they are, where they can contribute and where they need to grow”.

In her address, Rector Ana Isabel Fernández emphasised that CUNEF Universidad’s progress is inspired by its commitment to being an internationally recognised, cutting-edge, specialised university with a vocation for public service. She also encouraged the graduates to “look to the future with confidence, continue learning at all times, and lead with the integrity and rigour that characterise our university community”. 

The event also featured a speech by Antonio Rodríguez-Pina, who emphasised that “education is not only about providing specialised knowledge, but also about expanding students’ intellect so that they learn to value things of true worth”. Alejandra Kindelán, Chair of the Spanish Banking Association (AEB), also addressed the new graduates, emphasising that “this Graduation Ceremony celebrates your hard work and the completion of a decisive stage in your professional and personal lives”.

Academic excellence, social commitment and international outlook

In recent years, CUNEF Universidad has consolidated its position as a specialised institution with an international focus through an academic portfolio tailored to new professional profiles. This commitment to excellence is endorsed by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which has awarded international accreditation to 13 (nine undergraduate and four graduate) of its business administration programmes. In the 2025–2026 academic year, the institution’s social commitment materialised through 100 scholarships to undergraduate students, awarded with the support of the Spanish Banking Foundation. Meanwhile, the university’s global vision is underpinned by its network of more than 150 partner institutions across 35 countries.

This year’s graduation ceremony not only celebrates the culmination of the graduates’ university studies, but also the starting point for a new generation of future leaders with critical thinking, digital skills and a global vision, ready to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.

You can check the event coverage at the following links:

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