Honorary doctorate

Research of a doctor honoris causa University of Valladolid, Spain.

The doctorate honoris causa is an honorary degree awarded by a university, professional association, academy or college to eminent persons. This designation is granted mainly to people who have excelled in certain professional fields and who are not necessarily graduates in a certain career.

This distinction has been awarded in Spain since 1920.

Etymology and usage

Honoris causa is a Latin locution whose meaning is "for the sake of honor", a quality that leads one to fulfill their duties, respect their peers and oneself, is the good reputation that follows virtue, merit or service actions, which transcend families, people, institutions and the actions themselves that are recognized. It is a high honor for people of social, recognized and blameless testimony. In most cases, this locution is preceded by the terms «teacher» or «doctor».^{[citation required]}

Ceremony

The Spanish-Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa receiving the birrete from the rector of the University of La Rioja, Spain (2007).

The granting, in the ceremonious investiture ritual, of different objects related to the classical university contains a whole exaltation of teaching and wisdom. Like a teaching gentleman, the doctoral student is imposed, successively:

• the Birrete“... that he may not only bring people to shame, but also, as with the helmet of Minerva, be prepared for the struggle”;
• the Ring“... so that wisdom may be willingly offered as a spouse in perpetual covenant”;
• the gloves: "These white gloves, a symbol of purity that should keep your hands in your work and in your writing, are also distinctive of your singular honor and worth."
• the book: “Behold, the book open for you to discover the secrets of science (...), behold, it is closed that these secrets, as appropriate, should keep them in the depths of your heart.”

After the ceremony, and with the granting to the new doctor of the faculties of reading, understanding and interpreting, he is instructed: «Take a seat in the Chair of Wisdom, and from there, standing out for your science, teach, guide, judge and show your magnificence in the university, in the forum and in society ». The new doctor agrees to uphold the laws and the honor of the university and lend him favour, help and advice.

Honorary doctorates

The number of women who have been awarded an honoris causa doctorate at Spanish universities barely exceeds 15% in global terms in 2018, the figure being slightly higher at private universities (20%) than in the public (14%), according to data from the Women's Institute. Among the first women to be awarded the title is Santa Teresa de Cepeda at the University of Salamanca (1922). Jaime University I of Castellón de la Plana named the first woman in 2006, Ángeles Galino, after twenty-two years of having chosen men for the distinction. In 2010 there were two women out of thirty. In 2018 the University of Valladolid had awarded 67 titles of that rank, only six to women. At the Complutense University of Madrid in 2018, 252 men and twelve women had been appointed. University of Barcelona in 2018, 133 men and five women had been appointed.