IQS celebrated its Class of 2025-2026 graduation ceremony on 2 July, an event that brought together students, families, staff and institutional representatives at L’Auditori in Barcelona to mark the end of an academic stage and welcome the new graduates into their professional lives.
IQS celebrates the graduation of 485 students with the debut of the first Biomedical Sciences cohort
The IQS Class of 2025-2026 was made up of 485 students from the fields of science, health, engineering and business management, coming from IQS’s various degree and dual-degree programmes. The ceremony held particular significance this year, marking the graduation of the first cohort of IQS’s Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences, a programme launched in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The ceremony was presided over by Dr Vicenç Pedret Clemente, Chairman of the IQS Board of Trustees; Dr Carles Pérez Testor, Rector of Universitat Ramon Llull; Dr Salvador Borrós i Gómez, Director General of IQS; Dr Jordi Díaz Ferrero, Dean of IQS School of Engineering; Dr Flavio Vasconcellos Comim, Dean of IQS School of Management; Dr Montserrat Esquerda i Aresté, Dean of the Blanquerna Faculty of Health Sciences; and Dr José Javier Molins Vara, Secretary General of IQS.
The ceremony’s madrina (patroness) was Ana Argelich Hesse, President and Managing Director of MSD Spain and an IQS alumna. She was introduced by Dr Borrós, who delivered the traditional laudatio, highlighting her professional career, her leadership of MSD Spain and her ties to IQS as a former student.
In her address, Argelich congratulated the graduates in a ceremony marked by emotion and a forward-looking outlook. She stressed that knowledge is important, but that people matter even more, and encouraged graduates to have the courage to try new things, such as pursuing an international career. She also emphasised the importance of learning from mistakes in order to grow, and of finding one’s own passion, because when a person does what they love, they grow and become good at it. She also noted that this stage marks not only the culmination of their studies but also the beginning of a new professional chapter in which curiosity, judgement and adaptability will be key.
Recognising a diverse and committed cohort
One of the central moments of the ceremony was when students from the different degree programmes took to the stage to receive congratulations from the presiding table, accompanied by the academic coordinators of each degree.
The ceremony also featured remarks from student representatives Ann-Sofie Hubschneider, Guillem Boigues Coll and Rodrigo Mor Gimeno, who shared their reflections on their university experience. In their speech, they highlighted values such as integrity, resilience and an international outlook, and thanked their families, fellow students and staff for their support throughout this stage.
During the ceremony, awards were also presented to the students with the best academic records in the cohort from the various areas of IQS School of Engineering and IQS School of Management, announced by the Secretary General of IQS, Dr José Javier Molins Vara.
Next, the President of AIQS, Jordi Martí Gascón, introduced the alumni association and welcomed the graduates into the IQS alumni community, an international professional network made up of thousands of graduates connected to the institution.
Looking to the future with confidence
Towards the end of the ceremony, the Rector of Universitat Ramon Llull, Dr Carles Pérez Testor, addressed the graduates with a message of congratulations and encouragement for this new stage in their lives and careers.
In his speech, the Rector reminded graduates that the ceremony symbolises a rite of passage between academic and professional life. He noted that, although they had completed their university studies, learning never ends and forms part of the ethical commitment of any professional. In this regard, he welcomed the new graduates to the IQS-Universitat Ramon Llull Alumni community, reaffirming the university’s commitment to supporting them throughout their professional and personal development.
Dr Pérez Testor also emphasised the social responsibility of future generations of professionals. He encouraged graduates to carry out their work with critical thinking, honesty and depth, reminding them that every decision helps to shape society. He also urged them to put their talent at the service of a fairer, more humane and more liveable world, turning their profession into a tool for positive transformation and hope.
The ceremony concluded with a rendition of the traditional Gaudeamus Igitur and a group photograph of the cohort, bringing together students, staff and institutional representatives in an image symbolising the bonds formed during their years of study.
Afterwards, attendees took part in a celebratory reception, bringing a fitting close to a day of special significance for the whole IQS community.
As is customary each year, a Mass was held before the ceremony at the Mare de Déu del Roser church.