Update (May 2026):
The honorary doctorate was conferred on April 30, 2026, during the UNED International Doctoral School Day. UNED has published the official laudatio, Professor Gilbert’s acceptance remarks, and a full video recording of the ceremony. Materials are available below:
UNED news article and ceremony materials
Full ceremony video
Professor Neil Gilbert will be awarded an honorary doctorate by National University of Distance Education (UNED) , Spain’s largest public university, on April 30, 2026, during the UNED International Doctoral School Day (EIDUNED).
He is the first non-Spanish social worker to receive an honorary doctorate within the Spanish university system.
The nomination was submitted in 2017 by UNED Professor of Social Work Antonio López Peláez through the UNED International Doctoral School. After a multi-year review and approval process, the degree will be conferred in 2026, with López Peláez serving as sponsor at the ceremony.
UNED enrolls more than 200,000 students and has over 3,000 faculty members, and awards only two honorary doctorates each year.
Gilbert’s selection represents a rare instance of a U.S.-based social work scholar receiving this distinction from a Spanish university.
More information is available at: https://extension.uned.es/actividad/idactividad/51157