Development Cooperation and Volunteerism Area Director of the Vice Rectorate for International Relations at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Juanjo Ballesta, participated in the Fifth Workshops of the University Development Cooperation Observatory (OCUD) of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities, which were held October 25-26 at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. During his intervention, Juanjo Ballesta presented the international development cooperation efforts carried out by the UMH in Rwanda through its UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair.

The cooperation project in the African country is a sample of the work by the UMH to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thanks to actions in education and health established in the UMH program, the university is actively collaborating in achieving Goal 3 (good health and well-being) and Goal 4 (quality education) in the 2030 Agenda. Moreover, through this program, the university community volunteers who travel to Rwanda receive training and raise their awareness with respect to Goal 1 (no poverty) and Goal 2 (zero hunger).

Under the title, “2030 Agenda: from Commitment to Action,” these workshops organized by the OCUD represented an open space for Spanish universities to reflect on, debate, and share experiences in the areas of sustainable development and international cooperation, and they helped boost the 2030 Agenda from the context of Spanish higher education.

Collaborators in the workshops included the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, European Union, and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.