On November 22 & 23, Valona Hall at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) was home to the ninth edition of the University of the Fall, held on this occasion under the motto of “Digital Bridges, Technologies, Cooperation and Global Transformation,” an event that highlighted the positive and negative impact of new technologies on development cooperation.

The conference highlighted topics related to improving the quality of life within developing countries, the circular economy, entrepreneurship, and how to address inequality, as well as how international development cooperation can facilitate sustainable and dignified work.

Event speakers featured professionals with extensive experience at entities and projects related to cooperation and volunteering. Their presence help make the University of the Fall a space for reflection and for sharing new ideas for implementation in different international contexts.

Organizations present at this event included both the Valencian Coordinator of NGOs and the Solidarity Health Network, and they gave workshops for those in attendance. The first of these offered a debate between personnel at NGOs and university faculty, while the second focused on migratory processes with first-hand accounts.

University of the Fall IX was inaugurated by UMH rector, Juan José Ruiz; the Director General of Inclusion and Development Cooperation, Pedro Carceller; along with the remaining representatives from the five Valencian public universities. Juana Aznar, UMH Director of Development Cooperation and Volunteerism, was tasked with the event’s closing.

Jaume I University is set to host the next University of the Fall.

This recurring activity is part of the activities detailed in the collaboration agreement among the GVA, through its First Vice President, and Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing, along with the UMH, to co-fund the project, Institutional Actions of Research and Training: University Development Cooperation 2024.”

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