From the fifth position to the top spot in the assessment of Nursing degree studies at Universitat d’Alacant UA over the last four years, this report reflects the findings of the CYD Foundation, an organization focused on evaluating the reality and potential of universities across the country since 2002. The foundation acts to defend the economic and social development of the state as well as the business sector, and its board includes representatives from leading business groups.
UA is not among the fifteen countries with the highest performance indicators, a status that is noted by the CYD Ranking with Valencia as the sole major university in the region for certain metrics. Within its autonomous community, only the Polytechnic University of Valencia stands out in the research arena, which remains a key performance indicator. In a broader regional context, Valencian universities together with Navarra, Catalonia, and the Basque Country have achieved higher research indicators.
The university presents compelling data on departments such as Medicine, Nursing, and Mathematics as the most requested fields during pre-registration. The post-pandemic era has strengthened interest in health sciences, with Medicine showing a rising demand that bodes well for UA’s academic year 2023-2024. Beyond enrollment figures, there is a clear need for experts in these areas in society, underscoring the importance of continued investment in health education.
The development of the new Medicine degree represents a milestone for UA, marking a consolidation of activity after the earlier separation from the previous Faculty of Medicine, which operated as an affiliated unit with Universitat Miguel Hernández d’Elx in 1996. The creation of this degree is a strategic challenge for the university community, one that may provoke discussion about implications for other centers and potential economic reorganization. Effective resource management will be essential to address these concerns. The mission guiding this effort aligns with the public university’s core Faculties of Health Sciences, including Nursing and Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Faculties of Science, with programs in Biology and Chemistry among others. This reorganization grants UA significantly more resources than the former School of Medicine had, including a broader base of biomedical teachers and researchers, modern laboratories, and new health-related institutional chairs.
Recent recognition of nursing studies further confirms the program’s excellence. This is evident in the professional leadership shown by the degree’s management, including the current dean who is a respected academic and researcher within the Spanish university system. In global rankings published by a renowned university research center since 2003, the nursing degree at UA has reached a prominent position among thousands of higher education institutions. This milestone highlights the strong basis of professional excellence among UA faculty and researchers, which lays the groundwork for the future Medical degree. In an era where concise writing is valued, the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci emerges as a guiding aphorism: the greatest value of the university lies in recognizing and elevating small, meaningful contributions. The external acknowledgment of the nursing degree through objective data signals the likely impact and quality of future medical education for society. The overall trajectory suggests a robust foundation for ongoing academic and healthcare leadership in the region, supported by a combination of strategic governance, workforce development, and sustained investment in health sciences.