● Borrell delivered the opening lecture, 'The European Union between Wars and Elections,' which invited collective reflection on the consequences of armed conflicts.
● For four days, the Campus will bring together in La Laguna other internationally renowned figures such as neuroscientist Rafael Yuste and the former Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, Francesco Bandarin.
The Ciudad de La Laguna International Campus kicks off its training program dedicated to knowledge, culture and global dialogue today with the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Josep Borrell, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
The opening ceremony, held at the Teatro Leal was attended by representatives of the entities promoting the initiative, the mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco Javier García, and the president of the CajaCanarias Foundation, Margarita Ramos.
The mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, emphasized the importance of the Campus at a particularly significant moment for the city, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of its declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. “This recognition not only validates the historical and cultural value of our historic center, but also challenges us to assume an active role as a space for thought open to the world,” he stated. In this regard, he highlighted that one of the Campus's educational pillars is heritage, understood as a tool for social cohesion, collective identity, and international projection. “There is no better setting than La Laguna to reflect on how our legacy can inspire solutions for the future,” he concluded.
For his part, the Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, praised the launch of this academic initiative, conceived as a space for reflection that brings together a distinguished group of internationally renowned experts, “capable of developing critical analysis grounded in knowledge and academic rigor.” In this regard, he emphasized the wisdom of holding the Campus in a location like La Laguna, “a city designed for peace.”.
Likewise, the president of the CajaCanarias Foundation, Margarita Ramos, emphasized the privilege of having one of the key figures in European politics, Josep Borrell, deliver the opening address of the academic program. She also expressed her gratitude for the involvement of the sponsoring organizations, the academic committee, and the speakers who made this first edition of the Campus possible, reflecting their commitment "to culture, education, and free thought," she stated. Finally, she invited all interested parties to follow the live stream of the educational content and join in this "celebration of knowledge and culture.".
Borrell then delivered his opening address, entitled 'The European Union Between Wars and Elections'. In it, he reflected on the effects and challenges that armed conflicts pose in the contemporary world. Drawing on his extensive international experience, he offered a strategic perspective on the role of Europe and the global community in the face of current scenarios of war and international tension.
This activity marks the beginning of the training program of the International Campus Ciudad de La Laguna, an initiative promoted by the CajaCanarias Foundation, University of La Laguna and La Laguna City Council, with the technical coordination of the Fyde CajaCanarias Foundation, which will be held until July 31 in different spaces of the municipality.
The Campus will bring together specialists from various disciplines in La Laguna, including architects, scientists, journalists, and researchers from prestigious national and international institutions. Notable participants include neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, who will deliver the closing lecture on Thursday, July 31st at the Teatro Leal, and Francesco Bandarin, former Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO.
Places for enrollment in the face-to-face courses have been sold out for weeks, but it is still possible to follow all academic training online through the Campus streaming option available during all sessions.
An educational initiative of academic excellence
The International Campus of La Laguna, in this first edition, is conceived as an academic and civic meeting space that seeks to promote knowledge and reflection on current issues, through a broad academic and cultural agenda that revolves around three thematic axes, such as the consequences of war, neuroscience and neurorights, as well as the value of heritage in the 21st century.
Over the four days of the event, some twenty activities will take place, including seminars, roundtables, and conferences. With a strong international focus, this meeting space aims to establish itself as a forum for the exchange of ideas from a critical, humanist, and global perspective.
A varied cultural program with exhibitions, screenings and concerts
The cultural program for this week also includes the screening of the documentary 'Daughters of the Holy Land' on Tuesday, July 29, in the Paraninfo of the University of La Laguna, with a discussion with its director, Marcel Mettelsiefen, and the producer, Mayte Carrasco, moderated by the Canarian filmmaker David Baute.
As the grand finale to this cultural program, on Wednesday, July 30, Los Sabandeños will perform a concert at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the NGO Paz En Construcción. Tickets for this event are already sold out.
It is also worth noting that the two exhibitions at the Campus will be available until July 31st. One is the exhibition 'The Disasters of War: Photographs by Alberto Hugo Rojas', located in the CajaCanarias Foundation space in La Laguna, and the other is 'Written in Stone', currently on display in the plaza del Adelantado.
Tickets for the closing conference, as well as the documentary screening, are available free of charge and only require prior registration through this website.
