On November 27 – 29, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) participated at the ‘University Development Cooperation Congress IX: New Scenarios and Challenges’ in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain). At this event, Lis Gaibar, Co-director of the UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair, spoke to university development cooperation experts and academics about the training UMH volunteers to Rwanda receive before they leave Elche as well as while they are on the ground in that African country.

During her presentation at a global transformation roundtable, Gaibar spoke of the various actions the UMH carries out in Rwanda. More specifically, she focused her words on raising awareness within the university community about the volunteer program. She also addressed the contents, philosophy, and impact of the training sessions provided before and during their stays in Rwanda, and discussed topics such as development cooperation, volunteering, humanitarian efforts, education for development, the African continent’s history & context, among others.

This congress was promoted by the Observatory of University Development Cooperation (OCUD), the Sectorial Commission of Internationalization and Cooperation of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), Vice Ministry of Family, Youth and Social Affairs of the Community of Madrid, and the public universities of the Community of Madrid. The event represented the resumption (following the global covid shutdown) of these biannual meetings by Spanish universities. Such meetings foster the creation of networks, transfer of knowledge, research, innovation, exchanges of knowledge and best practices in international cooperation for and by development.

This edition of the congress defined and stressed the fundamental role that universities play in generating knowledge for and by sustainable development, training future professionals with global social consciousness through education on development and international volunteering, and the role of universities as welcoming institutions and ones that provide refuge.

These events showcase and value innovative and effective strategies implemented by universities in conjunction with government, third-sector organizations, and civil society.

Other members of the UMH contingent included Juana Aznar, the Director of Development Cooperation and Volunteerism; Inma Blaya, the Director of the Service of International Relations, Development Cooperation and Volunteerism; and Laura Parrilla, Section Head of Development Cooperation & Volunteerism and International Programs.