We recognize excellence
Excellence Programme
Our understanding of excellence
The self-discipline demonstrated by those of you who achieve outstanding academic results honours us deeply. With the consistent effort you have shown, you cultivate and do justice to the gifts you possess.
But there are even greater values that will accompany you — and distinguish you — throughout your life: generosity and simplicity.
In time, when you look back and review your career, your achievements will not seem as important to you as the good you have done, the harm you prevented when it was unjust, and the people you helped through your professionalism.
Because that is what really matters: transforming your vocation into a commitment to your tasks and, above all, to putting yourself at the service of others. And that, more than technical knowledge and skills, will give you something much more difficult to gain: wisdom of the heart.
This wisdom that will enable you to distinguish between what only appears valuable and what truly deserves your commitment: that which benefits others. A person’s true value is not measured by what they are capable of doing, but by what they are willing to offer.
Excellence may be recognized through prizes or grades, but its true origin is in your character and the cultivation of virtue: it is the inner strength that drives us to do things well while doing good, to multiply it and share it. Without that strength, everything else — qualifications, awards, recognition — will be a mirage. You may reach out for these things, but you will be grasping at thin air.
At the heart of our Excellence Programme is our desire to educate not only highly competent professionals, but also individuals who are free and committed. We want to cultivate brilliant minds, but also those with character, people who champion fairness, and who have wise hearts.
The Rector
Dr. Higinio Marín Pedreño
What is the Excellence Programme?
The Excellence Programme represents the commitment of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University to students who aspire to go further than others. This initiative seeks to promote academic and personal excellence through an intensive training programme that enhances these students’ talents, promotes their comprehensive development and prepares them for an increasingly demanding professional and social environment.
All of this is achieved through the cultivation of a strong commitment to service, the most genuine way to contribute to the common good and exercise true leadership.
Upon completion of their degree, these students’ participation in the Excellence Programme will be specifically recognized on their European Diploma Supplement as participation in an intensive training programme for high-achieving students.
Areas of development
The CEU Cardenal Herrera University Excellence Programme is designed to offer high-achieving students a unique educational experience that complements their undergraduate studies with an exclusive set of academic and extra-curricular activities structured around five major areas of development:
Personal development and character formation
Comprehensive education transcends the limits of technical knowledge: it must open up broad spaces for personal reflection, creativity, and artistic sensitivity. The promotion of cultural and humanistic development helps to provide individuals with a broader worldview and a deeper commitment to the social environment they form part of.
Competencies for professional development
Professional success depends as much on acquiring technical skills and knowledge as it does on personal and social attitudes developed over the course of our personal development. By encouraging students to develop these competencies, we can help them to face future career challenges with confidence and a collaborative spirit.
Specialized language training
Language learning is key in a globalized environment, where intercultural communication and openness to other realities are essential. The ability to speak several languages not only facilitates access to new opportunities, but also enriches thinking and broadens life experience.
Introduction to advanced research practices
Research is the driving force behind innovation and knowledge. By becoming familiar with its methods and practices, our students can strengthen their critical thinking, analytical skills and intellectual rigour — all qualities that are essential to tackle the challenges of the present and anticipate the needs of the future.
Digital literacy and Artificial Intelligence
The digital age requires skills that enable us to make the most of emerging technologies. By achieving digital literacy and understanding the impact of AI, you will be ready for a whole range of professional challenges, but it also opens the door to innovation and enhances your ability to adapt to a constantly changing world.
Who is the Excellence Programme for?
Each academic year, students who meet any of the following requirements will be invited to join the Excellence Programme:
- New students with a scholarship from the CEU Humanitas Scholarship Programme.
- UCH undergraduate students who have obtained an average grade ≥ 9/10 on their academic record or in the immediately preceding academic year.
In addition, students with an average grade ≥ 8.5/10 who fulfil any of the following criteria will be eligible for the Excellence Programme:
- Dual degree students
- Elite athletes
- Those also studying for a degree in music at a conservatoire (grado superior de música)
In these three cases, you must submit a personal application by email to [email protected], including the following documentation:
- Official certificates as evidence of your specific situation.
- A covering letter, explaining your motivation.
- Letter of recommendation (only for students enrolled in a dual degree programme), issued by an academic supervisor (degree or course coordinator).
You can consult the requirements for continuation in the Programme.
Director of the Excellence Programme
Director of the Excellence Programme and the CEU Educational Model
Dr. Juan C. Valderrama
Senior Lecturer in the History of Thought and Social and Political Movements, Dr Juan C. Valderrama holds a Bachelor's Degree and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Navarra, where he also conducted research at its Business and Humanism Institute.
He has been a lecturer at the CEU Cardenal Herrera University since 2003, teaching courses on philosophy and the history of political thought. Throughout his career, he has combined teaching with intensive research work. He currently heads G-ReSP, an interdisciplinary research group concerning religion, society and politics.
As Director of the Excellence Programme, he supports students in the development of their academic and personal talents, with a humanistic vision that requires self-discipline and a commitment to serving society.
You can contact the Director of the Excellence Programme.
Extraordinary Graduation Awards of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University
The Extraordinary Graduation Awards aim to recognize students who have excelled in their university studies.
Awarded students may apply, if they wish, for the Academic Excellence Awards granted annually by the Generalitat Valenciana, as well as the National University Graduation Awards by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports. In both cases, the interested parties must carry out the necessary procedures with the corresponding administrative bodies.
Ángel Herrera Awards
The Ángel Herrera Awards were created in 1997 to recognize the social, teaching, and research work of individuals or groups belonging to the centers of the San Pablo CEU University Foundation.
These awards, named after the founder of the Catholic Association of Propagandists (ACdP) and the Foundation, Prelate Ángel Herrera, are granted annually in the categories of Solidarity, Best Research Work, Best Teaching Work, Best Teaching Work in Secondary Education Centers, as well as Best Student from each University Center, Faculty, Vocational Training Center, and Secondary Education School.
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Voices of excellence
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Fiona Raquel Obando Espinoza Dual Degree in Law and Political Science
“Being part of the Excellence Programme has been a truly rewarding experience that felt unique. As an international student, it has given me the opportunity to meet wonderful people, attend public speaking and conversation workshops, and practise different languages that would otherwise have been difficult to explore. In addition, thanks to the programme, I have been able to attend the theatre and enjoy other cultural activities, broadening and enriching my worldview. It is an honour to belong to this group, and I will apply everything I have learned in my future career and social life.”
Alejandro Verdejo Antón Dual Degree in Business Administration and Management
“The Excellence Programme allows you to enjoy the university experience to the fullest. It enhances our education beyond our undergraduate studies, awakens new interests, and connects us with brilliant minds and great role models for our academic and professional lives. It also provides unique opportunities that help us shape our future.”
Hugo Vicente Aramburo Bachelor's Degree in Dentistry
“Being part of the Excellence Programme has been a profoundly transformative experience. It has allowed me to grow not only academically, but also personally, as I was surrounded by inspiring people and participating in activities that encourage reflection and constant learning. In all this, I have found confidence, motivation, and meaning, and it has reminded me why I chose this path.”
Enrique Lluch Frechina Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Business
“Outstanding grades mean nothing if they are not put to use in society. The Excellence Programme encourages our students to ask themselves why they do what they do, and what and who they are studying for. It helps them realize that talent is multiplied when we collaborate with others, when we open up to people from different disciplines who share the same desire: to offer the best of ourselves to others. Ultimately, it is about improving from, with, for and through others.”
Elvira Alonso Romero Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Ethics, and Sociology
“This programme is an excellent way to recognize outstanding academic performance and, at the same time, encourage further growth. In addition to offering complementary training, the Programme creates a community of brilliant students who can inspire each other in their pursuit of excellence.”