During the afternoon of October 17, 2024, a delegation of American universities that are members of NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, visited the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) with the objective of expanding their exchange programs. Their visit, the ‘NAFSA-ICEX Study in Spain Seminar,’ was part of the actions carried out by NAFSA and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), with collaboration by the Provincial Tourism Board on the Costa Blanca.

The events began with a visit of the UMH Elche Campus, and there, the American representatives toured the UMH Scientific Park where they demonstrated a keen interest in the education offered by the UMH.

The delegation of American entities was welcomed by Vice Rector for Internationalization and Cooperation, Vicente Micol; Deputy Vice Rector for Institutional Position and Rankings, José Manuel Blanes; Director of the Service of International Relations, Development Cooperation and Volunteerism, Inma Blaya; Director of Business Growth at the Scientific Park, Sergio Román; Director of the Language Center, Ana Esclápez; and technician at said service, Paul Nordstrom.

Micol addressed the various fields of study offered by the university, its research and innovation capabilities, actions undergone in internationalization and development cooperation, as well as collaboration by the UMH with other American institutions. Ana Esclápez expanded upon the foreign language programs offered, and Román informed the visitors about the operations at the Scientific Park and the companies that call the park their home.

Inma Blaya encouraged the North American representatives to seek alliances for future projects for exchange and collaboration, and she highlighted the benefits of the Erasmus+ program for strengthening ties with third countries.

Attending the visit were NAFSA Senior Director, Caroline White; accompanying her were representatives from Clemson University, Illinois State University, North Carolina Central University, Seton Hall University, Texas Christian University, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Denver, University of Florida, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of South Carolina, University of South Dakota; University of Tennessee, Knoxville; University of West Florida, and the University of Wyoming.

This represents the strong internationalization efforts by both the UMH and its American counterparts, the latter of which visited in search of smaller Spanish higher education institutions that offer appealing cultural, educational, and touristic opportunities for their students, while at the same time affording more affordable locations. Furthermore, this objective mirrors the similar goal for the UMH presence at the most recent 2024 annual NAFSA conference in the United States in May, whose objective was to contact new universities.

In fact, it was during said recent NAFSA conference that the UMH Deputy Vice Rector for Internationalization reached an agreement for UMH student exchanges to take place at Utah Tech University, located in St. George, Utah, in the United States.