Graduation ceremony for sixty three IE University students

Today IE University awarded degrees to sixty three students from different bachelor programs in a ceremony held at its Segovia campus and presided by Salvador Carmona, Rector of IE University. The class of 2013 comprised 29 students from the IE University Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA), 26 from the Bachelor in Architecture, and 8 from the Bachelor in Communication. The ceremony held a special significance given that it was the graduation of the first intake of students of the Bachelor in Business Administration to graduate.

The ceremony included recognition of the students of 2013 who achieved the best grades, including BBA graduate Svenja Wegfahrt, who read an address on behalf of all the graduating class, while the keynote address was given by Elena Pisonero, President of Spanish satellite operator Hispasat.

The Rector gave an address in which he talked about the significance of this important landmark in students’ lives. After congratulating the students on starting a new period in their lives, Carmona explained that IE University has equipped students with an outstanding education with which to meet the challenges that inevitably lie ahead.

In line with the IE University motto, “Redefining excellence”, Carmona underscored the fact that true excellence is no longer a static concept, but rather one that is in constant movement”. Carmona summarized his concept of IE University’s innovative style in five main points: an international approach to education, a commitment to technological innovation, an entrepreneurial mindset, a focus on the humanities and ethical values, and a mix of academic rigor and exposure to the practical aspects of business. He explained that this is more than wishful thinking, these are achievements that are recognized by international media and reflected in the latest international rankings which place IE University among the best universities in Europe. The Rector’s address also focused on the students’ outlook on life, talking about people who have captured the imagination of this current generation, and whose philosophy can help them on the new path they are about to take.

The keynote address was delivered by Elena Pisonero, President of Spanish satellite operator Hispasat. Pisonero divided her address into three parts. In the first, she examined the global situation, talking about a world comprised of emerging economies which contrast with the traditional western world, the power of cities in the face of ageing states, and the difficult balance between politics and economy. The second part was about how to rise to these challenges, with a mixture of humanism, entrepreneurialism and meritocracy. “The competition resulting from globalization is good on a level playing field where the same rules of the game apply to everyone,” she said, “but that is not the case here.” Finally she told the students that they were now responsible for being the generation whose mission it is to change the world. “We cannot do everything, but together we can all do a lot, driven by our excellence, together with the best of the others”.

BBA graduate Svenja Wegfahrt, who received recognition as the best student of her program, addressed the audience on behalf of all the students, saying that “education should serve to give back to society what we have learned. We should go from being the NEET generation to the WE generation, creating business together.”