Solemn Investiture Ceremony for New Doctors and Presentation of Extraordinary Doctoral Awards May 27, 2021
1 October 2025
The Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche held this morning the investiture ceremony for 56 new doctors for the 2019/2020 academic year in the Altabix building on the Elche campus, as well as the presentation of 12 Extraordinary Doctorate Awards. The ceremony was presided over by the Rector of the UMH, Juan José Ruiz Martínez, the Vice-Rector for Research, Domingo Orozco Beltrán, and the Secretary General, Mercedes Sánchez Castillo.
During the ceremony, Vice-Rector Domingo Orozco delivered the laudatio to the new doctors. The Secretary General, Mercedes Sánchez, appointed the new doctors of the University, as well as each sponsor, and read the rectoral resolution granting the Extraordinary Doctorate Awards. Rector Juan José Ruiz closed the ceremony with his speech.
Source: UMH.
PROGRAM
11:30 a.m. Reception of guests in the lobby of the Rector’s Office and Social Council building on the Elche campus.
11:55 a.m. Entrance of the Academic Procession.
12:00 p.m. Begins the Academic Ceremony.
Laudatio by the Vice-Rector for Research.
Investiture of new doctors.
Presentation of Extraordinary Doctoral Awards.
Speech by the President.
CEREMONIAL
1) Guests will be received at 11:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Altabix building on the Elche campus.
2) The governing team will form the academic procession in the area next to the Aula Magna at 11:50 a.m. to proceed in procession to the lobby.
3) At the entrance of the procession, those present will stand. G. F. Handel’s Canticorum Jubilo will be played in the background.
The members of the procession will take their places, the presidential table will be formed, and they will stand and listen to Veni Creator Spiritus.
4) After the anthem, the Rector will say: “Doctors, please sit down, and if you wish, cover yourselves.”
5) The Chair will say: “The session is now open. The investiture of new doctors from Miguel Hernández University will now take place.”
6) The Rector will then say: “The Vice-Rector for Research has the floor to deliver the eulogy for the new doctors.”
7) The Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Domingo Orozco Beltrán, will deliver the Laudatio.
8) The Rector will say: “THE SECRETARY GENERAL WILL APPOINT THE NEW DOCTORS OF THE MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ UNIVERSITY OF ELCHE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE DEGREE DURING THE 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR.”
9) The Secretary General will call each sponsor, who will wait at the foot of the stage for their doctoral students.
10) The new doctors will enter the stage upon being named and will stand on the stage next to their sponsor.
11) The doctoral students will place their caps on themselves, and the Rector will present them with their diplomas. The new doctors will return to their seats to take their vows.
12) The Rector, addressing the new doctors, will say: “NEW DOCTORS, STAND. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I, THE RECTOR, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY CONFERRED ON ME, HAVE CONFERRED ON YOU THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR FROM THE MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ UNIVERSITY OF ELCHE. YOU WEAR THE LAUREATE CAP, THE DISTINCTIVE SYMBOL OF THE SPANISH HIGHER EDUCATION. WEAR IT UPON YOUR HEADS AS THE CROWN OF YOUR STUDIES AND MERIT.”
13) The Rector will then say: “I INVITE THE NEW DOCTORS TO MAKE THEIR PROMISE OF FIDELITY.”
14) The Secretary General will read the following commitment form: “DO YOU PROMISE BY YOUR CONSCIENCE AND HONOR TO BE LOYAL TO THE MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ UNIVERSITY OF ELCHE, TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE ITS HONOR AND BENEFIT, TO MAINTAIN THE ORDERLY SEATS AND THE ANCIENT STATUTES, TO OBSERVE THE STATUTES THAT NOW EXIST OR ARE FOR A TIME TO BE MADE, AND TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEGREES IN FULL AND NOT TO YIELD THEM TO ANYONE?”
15) The doctors will say: “YES, WE PROMISE.”
16) The Rector will then say: “Distinguished doctors, I admit and incorporate you into the College of Doctors of the Academy with all the honors, freedoms, exemptions, and privileges that other doctors enjoy or may enjoy at the University and elsewhere in the world.”
17) The Rector will say: “The Secretary General will read the agreement granting the extraordinary doctoral awards.”
18) The Secretary General will read the agreement.
19) The Rector will say: “The diplomas will be awarded.”
20) The Secretary General will name the award recipients, who will approach the presidential table to collect their diplomas.
21) The Rector will deliver his speech.
22) The audience will stand and remain in their respective seats, and the university anthem, Gaudeamus Igitur, will be played.
23) The Rector will then say: “THE SESSION IS ADJOURNED.”
24) The Academic Procession will depart in the reverse order of entry.
