The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) was host for the Third Conference on International Promotion of Spanish Higher Education, and event that was jointly organized by the Internationalization and Cooperation unit of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities along with the Service and Vice Rectorate for International Relations of the UMH. This event, one of the hallmark meetings in terms of international promotion of Spanish universities, took place November 25 – 26, 2021, in the Auditorium of the Rectorado & Consejo Social Building on the Elche Campus of the UM.

The event was attended in-person by more than 50 technicians responsible for internationalization efforts at various Spanish universities, and their physical presence represented a return to face-to-face interaction for this type of activity. Nonetheless, the presentations were streamed live over the UMH YouTube channel, so people everywhere all over the world could follow the proceedings.

On November 25, the annual work meeting of Internationalization Promotion subgroup of the Internationalization and Cooperation unit of CRUE took place. Attendants at this meeting included UMH Vice Rector for International Relations, Vicente Micol; Director of the Service of International Relations, Development Cooperation and Volunteerism, Inma Blaya; in addition to representatives from the subgroup’s member institutions.

Then, on November 26, UMH Vice Rector for International Relations opened that day’s events with the Director of the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education, Alfonso Gentil Álvarez-Ossorio; and Reyes Alejano, Vice Rector for Internationalization and Global Commitment at the University of Huelva and Coordinator of the Internationalization Work Group at CRUE.

Following them were different experts on internationalization, who addressed topics such as the procedures and visas for university employees, tools implemented for internationalization due to Covid-19, access to, and international promotion of Southern European universities, and the international appeal of the Spanish university system.

Among the many speakers, we want to highlight participation by Maurizio Tira, Rector of the University of Brescia and President of CRUI Internazionale; Miguel Ángel Castro Arroyo, Rector of the University of Seville and President of CRUE Internationalization; Alberto Virella Gomes, Ambassador in Special Mission for the Africa Plan for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and that by Pedro Cortegoso Fernández, Education Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Brazil.

Other participants who contributed as moderators for the presentations included UMH Associate Professor of International Private Law at the, Alfonso Ortega; and UMH   International Doctorate Director, María Pastor.

UMH Rector, Juan José Ruiz, helped conclude this annual event with Reyes Alejano and Sebastián Bruque. The latter is Vice Rector for Internationalization from the University of Jae and a member of the Executive Committee of the Internationalization and Cooperation unit of CRUE.