The University of Oviedo opens a new academic year with an expanded offer of Double Degrees and Bilingual Pathways, and a commitment to continue in these lines to achieve a wide and attractive catalog of Degrees. The news include the establishment of the Double Degree in Civil Engineering and Engineering of Mining and Energy Resources, at the Campus of Mieres, and the bilingual pathway of the Degree in Chemistry, with more than 80% of its classes offered in English.

Before classes start on September 9, the Main Hall hosted this solemn act of inauguration of the 2014-2015 academic year with more than one hundred Doctors and numerous political and academic authorities, and representatives of the Asturian society. The General Secretary, Ignacio González del Rey, opened the round of interventions with the academic record of the last year.

The Rector, Vicente Gotor, wanted to use this occasion to send a message of optimism and encouragement to all the university community in facing the new academic year, and also to thank the sacrifice and professionality shown during the past few years, marked by austerity and budget cuts. The Rector highlighted some of the most important achievements of the past few years, despite the economic situation, many of which are linked to the Campus of International Excellence, and insisted on the need to face the future with determination.

Furthermore, he settled as a goal to establish more Double Degrees, to establish Degrees taught fully in English and to boost the relevance of blended learning in Postgraduate Studies, both in Master's and in Certficate Degrees, as well as expanding the online offer of some Degrees. The Rector renewed his commitment towards continuing working for a better university until the last day of his term, which is ending during the Spring of 2016.

In turn, the President of the Principality of Asturias, Javier Fernández, used his speech to ensure that the terms of a contract program for the University will be closed before the end of the year, in order to consolidate the economic stability of the academic institution. The leader of the regional government has doubled down on the maintenance of an inclusive education of quality and made in service of the citizenship, and has committed himself to limiting the advace of inequality in regards to access to the institution.

The opening lecture of this academic year was made by María Josefa Sanz Fuentes, Tenured Professor of Historiographic Sciences and Technqiues, titled La reescritura del pasado. El Liber Testamentorum de la catedral de Oviedo.