COMUNICACIÓN

The President of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation’s Executive Commission and Director General of External Action of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Rosa Balas, closed the summer courses included in the programme Campus Yuste, which have been carried out at the Royal Monastery of Yuste –lasting three days each- (from Wednesday to Friday) since the last week in June. The courses are framed within the University of Extremadura’s International Summer Courses.

Rosa Balas shared her satisfaction during her speech, as the Foundation had received a total of 759 applications –for a grant as well as to attend as listeners- for the five courses offered. “This fact implies that the subjects dealt with are of great interest to the students due to their diversity and because they delve into problems and challenges that European and Latin American citizens face in a globalised world”, she pointed out. She, likewise, highlighted the 203 granted students and attendants’ high academic level and commitment, who “preferred to keep delving into the subjects they are interested in, which fortunately bodes a promising future for us with young people who are very aware of the problems and challenges society faces, instead of enjoying a few days of rest”.

Adding on to these good results, Rosa Balas highlighted the Campus’ open and international nature as it counted with students from Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba “which indicates that the subjects and the format employed go beyond European borders, thus making our hallmark a reality: Extremadura is a cross border region with a clear European identity and with a clear Ibero-American vocation. This is why we assume the responsibility of acting as a bridge for both regions”. The summer courses have also had students from other European countries, such as Portugal, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy and United Kingdom, and even a student from Cape Verde.

In this sense, she had a few words of recognition for the over a hundred speakers, including experts, academicians, and professionals who have participated in the summer courses “it is an honour for Yuste to be able to count with such a prominent list of speakers, who from their field of action are able to transmit the problems and achievements to the new generations, showing them the tools and the way to achieve a fairer, more solidary and equitable world”.

As for the subjects dealt with in the courses, the President of the Executive Commission went through each one of the courses and highlighted how on the basis of the 2030 Agenda’s mandate and the coherence of the public policies it states, the subjects dealt with in Campus Yuste are integrated and there is a correlation among them. The first course in Campus Yuste began tackling the need to create a new Global Social Compact on the basis of the 17 SDGs which will not leave anyone behind. The Campus continued to focus on the essence of Yuste Foundation, the relations between Europe and Latin America and on this occasion we saw how, through the redefinition of the social contract, both regions will be able to give current answers to global challenges.

The third course focused on the process of European integration and its currents challenges, as for instance nationalism, migration, globalisation and terrorism. Here, Rosa Balas claimed that “due to the need to have a true, common migratory policy, the European Union needs to assume the leadership in the fight against climate change, the defence of multilateralism as opposed to protectionism”.

As for the course “The World of Charles V: Women in Renaissance Europe and the New World”, the President of the Executive Commission explained that its main aim was to “reclaim the role of women as co-responsible of history”, as there were women politicians, businesswomen, and women with much power during the time of Charles V, “whose contribution has been silenced and we should be aware of the fact that the image we have of them is that which the masculine population has given us”.

Regarding the last course, entitled “Proposals for Preventing and Combating Radicalisation and Hate Crime in the European Context”, which has been closed today, Balas pointed out that it was scheduled at the end of the programme on purpose, as it included key issues already dealt with during previous weeks, as may be “equal opportunities; achieving true social justice; enabling young people to enter the working world; the fight against poverty; the fight against climate change which removes the possibility of having an opportunity in some world regions, specially Africa, since when this is not achieved these are elements that exacerbate inequality and contribute to create stereotypes and give way to feelings of hatred” she explained. In her opinion, “in a multicultural context defended by the Foundation, we consider spaces, such as the one offered by Campus Yuste, where through training and respect debate and constructive criticism is enabled, essential”.

The courses have been organised by Yuste Foundation in collaboration with other institutions, such as the Extremaduran Agency for International Development Cooperation (AEXCID) of the Regional Government of Extremadura; the City Council of Guadalupe; the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB); the Cooperation Network of European Routes of Charles V; Carolina Foundation; the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; the European Movement; the European Parliament; the European Commission; Let’s Talk about Europe; National Heritage; Mafresa, and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government.