The Adeje summer university, co-organised annually by the University of La Laguna and the Adeje council, is celebrating its 30th year this summer between July 17th and 21st. This year the central theme of many of the courses will be artificial intelligence. Registration for courses and workshops can be done through the Adeje page, https://www.adeje.es/uva
At the official presentation of the university programme this week were the new rector, Francisco García Rodríguez, Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, the ULL vice-rector of culture and education Isabel Karely León Pérez and the Adeje councillor for Education Adolfo Alonso Ferrera.
The rector called the Adeje summer university “the flagship for university extension studies in the Canary Islands”, alluding to the longevity of the UVA and the prestige it has acquired over the decades. He reminded people that the term “university extension” was an English phrase from the 18th century, when educators were looking for a way to teach those who were normally excluded from third level education through birth or lack of financial means.
The rector also referred to the central theme of artificial intelligence, a very current issue. He alluded to his own experience as a professor too, when wondering today if students were using tools such as Chat GPT. He said the debate would serve to reinforce the importance of humanity in technical times.
Adeje’s mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga made reference to the fact that both the council and the university have recently been through electoral processes, with new eras beginning in both institutions, a good time to reinvigorate this educational summer project.
The mayor said it was encouraging to see how the summer university had adapted and evolved over the years, with debates on issues of the day, dealing with a range of issues, from sustainable tourism, planning, and, today, artificial intelligence, the latter being something the council viewed as offering “both advantages and risks”.
The education councillor reminded potential students of the extra facilities that are being offered, such as free transport from the north, and the vice-rector went briefly over the courses and workshops on offer and reminded the public of the opening address that will be given by Beatriz Crespo Ruiz, Ph.D., sports physician and founder and CEO of Freedom & Flow.
Summer Univsersity Poster
During the presentation the top table also unveiled the poster for this year’s Summer University. This year four artists were invited to submit images on the theme of AI. The four are Oriol Cruz, Alba González, Aída Cecilia Hernández and Aída Díaz. Their submissions were then voted on by the public through an online poll, with Oriol Cruz chosen by the majority.
