- UTAMED officially opened the 2025/2026 Academic Year with an inaugural ceremony that brought together more than 500 attendees at its new headquarters in Málaga TechPark. The event was marked by a profound reflection on the challenges facing higher education in an increasingly technological and fast-changing world
The Atlantic Mediterranean Technological University (UTAMED) officially opened the 2025/2026 Academic Year with an inaugural ceremony. The historic event gathered academics, students, public officials, and shareholders, including Fundación Unicaja and Grupo Vocento, UTAMED’s main partners, who expressed their support for a project firmly committed to innovation and educational excellence.
The ceremony, hosted by journalist Toñi Moreno, became a space for reflection on the role of 21st-century universities and marked the beginning of a key chapter for UTAMED.
Rector Juan de Dios Jiménez emphasized that the university’s online learning model represents “an opportunity to break down the geographical and personal barriers that still limit access to higher education, offering anyone the chance to achieve a quality university education.”
Following him, Bernardino León, President of the Social Council of UTAMED, highlighted the council’s role in strengthening the relationship between the university and society, ensuring that academic activity aligns with the needs of the labor market, the economy, and the broader community.
The keynote lecture was delivered by writer Elvira Roca, titled “What Is the Purpose of a University? Is There a Future Without a Past?” (¿Para qué debe servir una universidad? ¿Hay futuro sin pasado?) She warned of the dangers of confusing information with knowledge in a world driven by technological speed. Roca defended memory, linguistic richness, and the ability to express oneself precisely as pillars of education. “In a world flooded with technology,” she said, “we must ask ourselves not only what we gain, but also what we are losing.”
The event was attended by prominent Andalusian authorities, including Francisco Salado, President of the Málaga Provincial Council; Ramón Herrera, Secretary General for Universities of the Andalusian Regional Government; and José Manuel Domínguez, President of Fundación Unicaja. All of them recognized UTAMED’s contribution to transforming the university landscape from Andalusia with a clear international projection.
The closing remarks were delivered by Paco Ávila, President of UTAMED, who recalled the challenges overcome in launching the project and delivered an inspiring message: “Compete, compete, compete… what a wonderful and healthy word. And we do so with an open hand to all universities, both public and private, to collaborate and raise the standard of education together.”
A Campus with Purpose
The ceremony took place at UTAMED’s new headquarters in Málaga TechPark, a building renovated by architecture firm Flow81. Led by architect Ignacio Merino, the project transformed a conventional office space into a living, tech-driven campus. It embodies UTAMED’s mission to innovate without losing its roots, symbolized by seven kilometers of hand-woven esparto grass running through its walls.
The inaugural academic event, which was live-streamed to more than 1,200 students, served as a manifesto of UTAMED’s vision: to establish itself as a driving force for educational innovation from Málaga to the world, with an online, inclusive, and flexible model designed to address the challenges of both the present and the future.