Introduction to Windsurfing, How to Hold a Good Laughter Therapy Workshop, and Tasty, Healthy and Wholesome Cooking are some examples of the summer courses the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) will offer in its 2015 Summer Courses. This morning, UMH Rector, Jesús Pastor Ciurana, Vice Rector for Culture and University Extension, Tatiana Sentamans, and University Summer Courses director, Enrique Conejero, presented the 2015 Summer Courses. In this edition, the sixteenth, the UMH offers 93 courses at 20 locations within the province of Alicante.

These courses bring together specialists from various subjects and disciplines in such a manner that the exchange of theories, experiences, and ideas generates, in addition to expanding knowledge, a different learning experience where active participation by their students is vital. In this year’s edition, the UMH has expanded its course offerings by 7% and added new venues such as Dolores, La Romana, and one virtual. Summer courses will also be available in Alicante, Almoradí, Altea, Aspe, Callosa de Segura, Elche, Ibi, Los Montesinos, Novelda, Orihuela (Desamparados), Orihuela (Salesas), Petrer, Rafal, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Santa Pola, Torrevieja, and Villajoyosa.

The course design process sought to balance both the needs and demands arising from the university community as well as those emanating from the various participating locations. The courses are organized like a discussion forum and meeting activity between the university community and society, and they strive to become a creative and dynamic setting with participation by different national and international specialists. Likewise, it was taken into account that the subject matter and contents complement university disciplines and that they offer perspectives that generally are not addressed during the academic school year or in graduate courses the UMH offers.

Furthermore, the educational needs of the different institutions and organizations from the public and private sectors and civil society making up the social fabric wherein the UMH is integrated have been incorporated.

The summer courses’ general objectives include, among others, addressing various branches of learning and knowledge, tackling current issues that are subject to reflection and that encourage debate and the exchange of ideas, in addition to promoting the cultural, political, artistic, scientific, and literary life of the university community, as well as fostering active participation by the student body.

Fourteen hundred students participated in the 2014 edition, and this number was 5% greater than the previous year. The UMH is the university in the Xarxa Vives network that offers the greatest number of courses and it is second in terms of the number of students enrolled. Despite the majority of the participants being young in age (some 55% between 18 and 24), more than 30% of them are over 30.

Further information on the programs, events, and enrollment is available at https://cursosdeverano.umh.es/ .