On 29 May, the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at UIC Barcelona held the graduation ceremony for the 2025–2026 cohort of undergraduate and master’s degree programmes in the Aula Magna on the Barcelona campus.

The ceremony, held in two sessions, brought together students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA), as well as those from the Faculty’s postgraduate programmes: the University Master's Degree in Business Management and Production Systems, the University Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Financing: Venture Capital and Private Equity, the Master’s Degree in Cooperation, Development and Social Economy, and the Lifelong Learning Master's Degree in AI for Business, Big Data and Analytics.

Seeking and creating beauty

The cohort’s patron was Anna Gener Surrell, CEO of the real estate consultancy Savills Barcelona, member of the University Advisory Board of UIC Barcelona, and one of the most influential women in Catalonia according to Forbes magazine. During her introduction at the undergraduate ceremony, lecturer Cristina Prats noted that Gener’s career embodies values fully aligned with those of the University, including dedication, humanistic sensitivity, excellence and social commitment.

In her keynote address, Gener shared a personal reflection based on the principle that has guided both her professional and personal life over recent decades: “seeking beauty and creating beauty”. Reflecting on her years as a student, she explained how this idea became her life compass and encouraged graduates to incorporate it into their everyday lives.

She invited students to discover beauty both in their immediate surroundings and in great works of art, which she described as a privileged source of self-knowledge and understanding of the world. “Seek out beauty. We live in an extraordinarily beautiful city that you can enjoy every day and, likewise, look closely at great works of art. In them you will find your fears and aspirations reflected; they will provide the key to understanding yourselves and the world in which you live – something essential both for personal development and for the professional world you are about to enter.”

Humanism in the age of AI

The dean of the Faculty, Dr Toni Mora, addressed the students by commending those who began their studies without a clear sense of their future, as this “means you came here to think, not merely to confirm what you already knew”.

Mora also reflected on the profound changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to business and economics. “AI is now doing the work that many of our junior analysts used to do, and that is frightening – understandably so. Machines are increasingly capable of carrying out tasks that can be done manually, yet your role will be to undertake work that requires judgement, relationships, integrity and decision-making in the face of uncertainty. That is the most meaningful work, and it is what we have sought to prepare you for.”

The dean also cautioned against the tendency to confuse efficiency with value and encouraged students to direct their careers towards organisations capable of generating a positive and sustainable impact. As a final piece of advice, he urged them to prioritise learning over status or immediate recognition: “Choose each role for what it teaches you, not for the title printed on your business card; income will follow, as will reputation. Be patient.”

Recognising achievement and looking ahead together

Both ceremonies included the traditional presentation of diplomas. At the undergraduate ceremony for Business Administration students, awards were also presented for the best bachelor degree final projects. This year, Elsa Ferreira received the Award for the Best Bachelor’s Degree Final Project in the Research and Entrepreneurship category, while Emma Soler was presented with the Cáritas Award for Social Commitment.

Undergraduate students also addressed attendees, sharing reflections on their years at the University. Speaking on behalf of the Business Administration cohort, Isabel Monfort and Elsa Ferreira humorously recalled the academic challenges of their first few years – including that econometrics examination that once seemed impossible to pass – and reflected on how, over time, the University had ceased to be merely a place of study and had become the setting for a shared chapter in their lives.

Elena de Juan encouraged her peers to pause and reflect on everything they had learned and experienced over four years.

Representing the master's students, Federico Dintron, from the Master’s Degree in Business Management and Production Systems, highlighted the value of shared experiences, the exchange among students from diverse backgrounds, and the Faculty’s international dimension. In this regard, Xiashun Lu, from the University Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Financing: Venture Capital and Private Equity, emphasised that, despite their varied cultural and geographical origins, students had been able to connect, collaborate and grow together throughout the year. 

Alba Gimeno, from the Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in Cooperation, Development and Social Economy, encouraged her peers to become agents of change and to work towards building a better world. Miguel Ángel Revillas, from the Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in AI for Business, Big Data and Analytics, noted that graduates leave the University with far more than a degree: they carry with them tools, critical thinking and a commitment to using their knowledge to generate a positive impact in their communities.

Both ceremonies concluded with the traditional singing of Gaudeamus Igitur and the formal incorporation of the new graduates into the Alumni UIC Barcelona community, a network that will continue to accompany them throughout their personal and professional journeys.