Summer University joint programme offer

For over 30 years the islands’  two public universities  have been running programmes of summer courses and seminars organised in collaboration with the town councils of Adeje, in the case of the University of La Laguna, and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in the case of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Until now, both summer schools have run independently of each other, but this year the UUL and the ULPGC, with the agreement of the two councils involved, are exploring ways of coordinating both programmes and sharing some activities and resources.

 

To this end last Thursday the council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana hosted the first working meeting led by vice-rectors from both universities and attended by representatives of Adeje council’s education department.  This first meeting served to establish an initial contact, exchange information and establish possible lines of joint collaboration. One of the objectives pursued is to promote a model of organisational sustainability and to rationalise some of the necessary investments that could see, for instance, a common offer of guest speakers and lecturers enriching both university programmes.

The Tenerife delegation was made up of Adeje councillors Adolfo Alonso Ferrera and Coraima Afonso Navarro, and the head of the education department, Alicia Rodríguez Alonso, and the vice-rector for Culture and University Extension of the University of La Laguna, Isabel K. León Pérez.

 

The meeting was hosted by Marco Aurelio Pérez Sánchez, Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana  councillor Elena Álamo,  Guillermo Morales Matos, Director of the Maspalomas Summer University; and José Miguel Álamo, Vice-Rector for Culture, Sport and Social Activation of the Campuses of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

 

The meeting further explored other ways forward given the willingness to collaborate, that could even extend beyond the Adeje and Maspalomas summer universities.  For now though all parties are working on building a stable alliance which will allow both summer course programmes to reach many more people, assist their continuing education and cultural growth, without any access requirements or conditions whatsoever.