New participation record in the URJC Summer Courses

Rosa Marquez of the Order

The Rey Juan Carlos University has celebrated the 2000th anniversary of its Summer Courses with a very special program in which top-level Spanish and international speakers and nearly XNUMX students have participated. Among the novelties this year, the commitment to practical training stands out, with music and dance workshops, such as the one taught by María Pagés, Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, within the course 'Flamenco choreography. Archeology of an organic performing art'.

Politics and current events have also been very present, with seminars dedicated to analyzing the impact of the wars in Gaza and Ukraine in the 2030 Agenda or Rule of law and governance in Spain. In other courses, topics that raise major ethical debates have been addressed. It is the case of 'Human-Centred artificial intelligence. How to hack the Turing trap?', in which the deontological and legal challenges of artificial intelligence or 'Hate speech in cyberspace. How can we draw limits on freedom of opinion and expression without undermining the democratic essence?', in which the Government delegate in Madrid participated as a speaker.

The course 'The arithmetic of pain', which has been running for eleven years, has presented the latest medical advances in the treatment of chronic pain, while 'Vocal rehabilitation through singing techniques', which is now in its third edition, once again focuses on non-invasive tools and techniques for speech pathologies. The circular economy, the design of more sustainable cities or mental health have also had their space throughout these two weeks.

Cristina del Prado, academic director of the Vice-Rector's Office for University Extension and director of the Summer School, has been very satisfied with the success of this edition. “We have realized that Aranjuez is the natural location for these courses. The environment fosters human relationships and dialogue, which makes them more participatory and allows for a greater personal experience.” Del Prado believes that the increase in the number of enrollments is due to the scholarships that the university has made available to students: “It has made attendees more committed to the courses and has allowed them to enjoy the parallel cultural activities programmed by the town hall of Aranjuez.” The URJC is already working to make next year's edition even more diverse and attractive.