26 January 2026
Bilbao Campus
On 28 January, the University of Deusto celebrated the feast of its patron, Saint Thomas Aquinas, with the conferral of degrees to its new Theology and doctoral graduates, and the presentation of awards to outstanding students. It was a day to recognise work well done, and also to mark the start of the graduation ceremonies for the 1,818 undergraduate students who completed their studies in the 2024–25 academic year.
Of these graduates, 349 were from Deusto Business School; 350 from Social and Human Sciences; 181 from Law; 257 from Engineering; 393 from Education and Sport; 272 from Health Sciences; and 16 from Theology. These graduates are joined by 1,094 Master’s students and 21 new doctoral graduates, bringing the total to 2,933 new graduates in the past academic year.
The academic event, which was preceded by a Eucharist in the Gothic Chapel, began with the presentation of the Mendieta and Lambarri Foundation Awards, the Honors Program awards, the Extraordinary End-of-Degree Awards, and the Ignacio Ellacuría Extraordinary Award. This was followed by a tribute to retired lecturers and staff members, the conferral of degrees on the new Theology and doctoral graduates, and an address by Rector Juan José Etxeberria. Full speech.
Walking with the poor
In his speech, the Rector reaffirmed his commitment to one of the apostolic preferences set out by the Society of Jesus in 2019, specifically the mission of «walking with the poor in a mission of reconciliation and justice». This preference seeks to go beyond the usual understanding of people with socio-economic needs, extending it to those who suffer any form of discrimination or are subject to abuse.
«These are people more broadly recognised as victims, or, in the words of Pope Francis, the “discarded”, a term that evokes their being considered expendable», he explained. In a world tempted by indifference, where the gap between the rich and the vast majority of the impoverished continues to grow, Juan José Etxeberria stated that «caring for the poor has never been more urgent». He emphasised that, in the face of a lack of compassion, we are called to build a culture of compassion. «There will only be a hopeful future for us if there is one for the victims of this world as well», he concluded.
This approach seeks to walk alongside them: to meet, listen and learn together; to move at their pace and support them in what they truly need. Although the academic environment is not usually where the most socially vulnerable situations arise, the university provides opportunities to engage with impoverished individuals and communities through extracurricular experiences (such as work camps or internships) and through teaching and research that incorporate real-life testimonies and social perspectives. Moreover, the university itself is a space for human encounter, where instances of discrimination can emerge and challenge the entire educational community.
Walking the university way
A Jesuit university can walk alongside disadvantaged people through three key areas. First, through an education that seeks not only to train professionals, but to develop individuals capable of understanding the social reality we live in and of forming the judgement needed to intervene in it. Second, through rigorous research that analyses in depth the structural causes of poverty, exclusion, and discrimination. And third, through a commitment to public responsibility in the promotion of social justice. In the Rector’s view, the University should influence social debate by offering new perspectives and viable solutions to complex problems.
Furthermore, this commitment to “walking with the poor” involves moving beyond one’s own interests to embrace those of people living on the margins. In his address, he stated that not all relevant knowledge is produced within academia, and that impoverished individuals and communities possess a deep understanding of the realities that affect them. «Partnering with them and their organisations is, in addition to being a moral imperative, a fertile way of learning and producing knowledge that is both more useful and more just», he said.
Finally, Juan José Etxeberria stressed that this commitment is not merely an inspiring principle, but a concrete call that concerns the entire university community. «It is not only the credibility of our commitment that is at stake, but also an opportunity to deepen our academic work and grow in humanity». As a university, walking in solidarity with the poor will only be possible if we walk together as a university community, strengthening our bonds and cultivating a shared sense of mission.
Following this inaugural conferment day, the various Faculties of the University of Deusto will hold graduation ceremonies for their new graduates every Saturday.
