Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX) has held the graduation ceremony for its Class of 2026, with nearly 9,500 students from fields such as Health, Business & Tech, Sport, Engineering, Education and Music. The new graduates now join a community of over 65,000 alumni following an academic year characterised by educational innovation, collaboration with businesses, a focus on research and the university’s expansion both within and beyond Madrid.
To round off this educational journey in style, the new graduates were supported by Antonio Garamendi, president of the CEOE; Matías Rodríguez Inciarte, president of Santander Universidades and vice-president of Universia; and Antonio de Lacy, a renowned international doctor specialising in general and gastrointestinal surgery, as patrons of the Class of 2026.
During their speeches, all three emphasised the importance of soft skills, because “we must promote not only theoretical and traditional knowledge, but also the ability to adapt to a changing world”, noted Rodríguez Inciarte. This was echoed by Garamendi, who noted that “technologies evolve, sectors change, professions are redefined; AI is already altering the way we work, communicate and make decisions, but that is precisely where one’s own judgement becomes an added value”. As for , Lacy chose to highlight his field, stating that, after education, “the most important thing is the health sciences”.
For his part, the president of UAX, Jesús Núñez, stated that “you are the best reflection of our purpose, which is none other than to educate with academic excellence, commitment and innovation so that all our students can achieve their goals”.
Training for the professionals of the future
Throughout the 2025/2026 academic year, UAX has continued to strengthen its educational model, focusing on training professionals who are prepared for an increasingly technological, interdisciplinary and constantly evolving environment.
Consequently, in the field of healthcare, the university has consolidated its commitment to a more preventive, sustainable and personalised model of healthcare. Having pioneered the integration of Digital Health training into the Medicine degree programme, it has extended these studies to the rest of the degree programmes in this field, as well as introducing the Sustainable Health module . This educational evolution is designed to prepare future professionals for a healthcare system in which technology, data and innovation will play a decisive role.
UAX has also continued to promote hybrid profiles capable of combining business acumen with technological expertise – a growing need in a labour market where digital transformation is already having an impact across all professional sectors.
Looking ahead to the next academic year, the university will continue to update its academic offering and incorporate bilingual, fully English or French-taught programmes. It will also introduce new degree programmes in line with emerging demands in the labour market in fields such as sport, with the Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management, the MBA in Sports Management and the Master’s in Sports Psychology (both offered online). In the healthcare sector, there will be new programmes such as the Master’s in Public Health and One Health, the Master’s in Aesthetic Medicine , and the MBA in Management, Strategic Management and Innovation for Pharmacy Practices; whilst in the field of Business & Tech, it will update its programme offering with qualifications such as the Master’s Degree in Digital Twins and AI for Industry, the Master’s Degree in Energy Markets and Sustainability, and the Master’s Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Practical learning aligned with the professional world
The constant upgrading of environments and facilities has been another cornerstone of the academic year. The Health Faculty has expanded its Health Campus with the opening of the UAX Psychology Clinic, located in the San Blas-Canillejas district of Madrid, a space that combines university education, specialised care and social impact.
Furthermore, the UAX Veterinary Teaching Hospital is celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of Europe’s leading centres for veterinary care and practical training, carrying out over 15,000 procedures a year and utilising technology across all specialisms, with experts of internationally recognised standing.
Links with the professional world have also been strengthened through strategic partnerships with leading companies and institutions. These include agreements with Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo in the legal field, and initiatives related to cybersecurity and digital transformation in partnership with companies such as Microsoft, Telefónica, IBM, Accenture and BBVA, including the co-creation of programmes such as the one dedicated to training in Agent-based AI, developed jointly with NTT Data.
In the creative industries and entertainment sector, UAX has also launched new programmes in partnership with Live Nation Spain, focusing on culture, music, audiovisual content and applied artificial intelligence, such as the MBA in Music Business and the Master’s Degree in Culture, Sport, Media and Entertainment Management (taught in Málaga at UAX Mare Nostrum). At the same time, the UAX Faculty of Music has strengthened its position as a leading centre for jazz with an exclusive series of masterclasses featuring international figures such as Chucho Valdés and Joe Sanders.
Research and social impact as part of the university’s mission
Research has been another key focus of the academic year. This is underlined by agreements such as the one signed between UAX and the Carlos III National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), aimed at developing advanced research projects, training researchers and promoting scientific initiatives of excellence in health sciences and biomedicine. Furthermore, to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UAX brought together five of its pioneering female researchers to highlight female talent in the fields of science and technology and to encourage new careers in STEM.
Scientific publications have also played a very prominent role, with a 67.4 per cent increase in 2025 and the establishment of two new research laboratories: the Materials Laboratory and the Applied Physics Laboratory.
Social commitment has also been an integral part of the university’s activities throughout the academic year via the Office of Volunteering and Development Cooperation, with volunteering and cooperation initiatives, as well as programmes linked to the community’s wellbeing and health.
Expansion and consolidation of the UAX ecosystem
Now that the graduation ceremonies have taken place, UAX is already working intensively to prepare for the 2026/2027 academic year, which will mark a new milestone in its extensive history spanning more than 30 years. Following the opening of UAX Mare Nostrum in Málaga in September 2025, the start of the next academic year will be marked by the inauguration of the Alfonso X el Sabio Asturias University Centre, located in the historic Calatrava building in Oviedo and specialising in healthcare education.
UAX thus brings to a close an academic year of particular significance for its academic, research, professional and social growth. This has been a period in which the university has continued to expand its impact in strategic areas and to strengthen an educational ecosystem that connects knowledge, business, technology, health and a commitment to the local community, all with a global vision.
