Felipe VI inaugurates Spanish academic year in Cartagena

King Felipe VI presided over the official opening of the 2026/2027 academic year at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. During the ceremony, the Monarch spoke personally about Princess Leonor beginning her civil university studies in Political Science at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, describing the family's feelings as a mix of “illusion, pride, and uncertainty.”

In his address to students, the King emphasized the role of universities in transforming information into knowledge and critical thinking. He also called for the governance of artificial intelligence to ensure it serves the common good rather than increasing inequality, and urged for the protection of academic spaces against disinformation.

Academic leaders used the event to highlight concerns regarding public university funding. José Julián Garde, president of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), advocated for a stable funding framework between the central government and autonomous communities, aiming to reach an investment level of 1% of GDP as established by law.