The Rector of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Jesús Pastor Ciurana, has presented 20 awards to members of the university community. Among these was the Medal of Honor, which was presented to the Director of the UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair and former UMH associate professor, Mariano Pérez Arroyo. This distinction Pérez Arroyo earned for his efforts in development cooperation and consolidating the university’s presence in Rwanda.

Mariano Pérez Arroyo is a neurophysiologist by training, and “village doctor” is how he describes himself. Since 1994, he has worked on development cooperation projects in Rwanda along with the UMH.