On July 11, 2024, Javier Oliver, Director General of the Agència Valenciana d’Avaluació i Prospectiva (AVAP), attended the investiture ceremony of two honorary doctors in the Paraninfo of the University of Alicante. This event was a recognition of the distinguished academic careers of professors Pedro Castro Borges and Francisco Michavila Pitarch.
The ceremony was presided over by the rector of the University of Alicante, Amparo Navarro, who highlighted the honorees’ contributions to the common good through their academic and research careers.
Among the attendees were various personalities from the academic, political, and social fields, including Eva Alcón, rector of the Universitat Jaume I and president of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities, Guillermo Cisneros, rector of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Juan Mora, vice-rector of Research, professors Castro and Michavila along with their sponsors, Pedro Garcés, Salvador Ivorra, and Faraón Llorens, Joan Lerma, former president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Amparo Marco, senator, Agustina Esteve, delegate of the Consell in Alicante, José Manuel Pingarrón, former Secretary General of Universities, the former rectors of the University of Alicante, Andrés Pedreño, Salvador Ordóñez, Ignacio Jiménez Raneda, Manuel Palomar, and other civil and military authorities.
Pedro Castro Borges, senior researcher at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute Unit Mérida (Cinvestav Mérida) in Mexico, was one of the awardees. In his speech, Castro recalled his beginnings and his persistence in the field of civil engineering despite difficulties. His work has been fundamental in disseminating knowledge in the field of quality control and pathology of the construction industry, always seeking social benefit and the development of sustainable structures.
On the other hand, Francisco Michavila, emeritus professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the first rector of the Universitat Jaume I, was also awarded an honorary doctorate. In his speech, Michavila highlighted his commitment to educational renewal and the construction of a united Europe through higher education. His sponsor, Professor Faraón Llorens, described him as a passionate Europeanist and a renovator of the educational world, emphasizing his ability to generate consensus and his tireless collaborative work.
The attendance of Javier Oliver on behalf of AVAP at this event underscores the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and evaluation and foresight agencies. AVAP’s participation in these ceremonies reinforces its commitment to academic excellence and the development of educational policies that promote the common good.
Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante, concluded the event by stressing that “there is no greater power than serving others” and celebrating the careers of Doctors Michavila and Castro as examples of dedication to public service and improving society through knowledge.
The University of Alicante, in recognizing these eminent figures, not only celebrates their individual achievements but also their impact on the academic community and their contribution to the training of future generations of professionals committed to excellence and innovation.
