Approximately fifty courses, precisely 48, will be included this year in the Rafael Altamira summer program from the University of Alicante. Enrollment shows a strong rebound, rising well above the levels of the past two years and surpassing numbers from the pre-pandemic era (43 courses in 2019, 19 in 2020, and 35 in 2021). The aim is to restore in-person learning to its usual pace after two years dominated by online formats.
The program offers 48 sessions, with 34 conducted face-to-face, 7 organized as dual delivery, and the remaining conducted in mixed modes that include both in-person and online formats. A portion will not be confined to the UA Campus in San Vicente del Raspeig. About 20 sessions will be held in different university spaces and classrooms across 22 additional provinces. Six more sessions will be held in Alicante, as the COOKIE – Alicante Town University initiative launches with two courses focusing on globalization and politics, hosted at venues such as the Alicante Provincial Bar Association (Icali).
Larissa Timofeva, director of the UA University Extension Secretariat, highlighted the return to normalcy two years after the disruption and the revival of international courses. This year features two joint ventures with Lamar University’s College of Business in the United States and the University of Missouri-Columbia, along with the National Police Corps’ training program, which explores themes related to youth violence in the context of the pandemic.
“The offer is exceptionally diverse and substantial, nearly doubling the usual range. More proposals were submitted this year, and prices remain stable, ranging from 20 to 300 euros depending on teaching hours and attendance. In most cases, registrations are already open,” stated Rafael Altamira. He noted that the pandemic has helped shake off the inertia in the student community, though he did not estimate the approximate audience for the courses. The emphasis remains on broad participation and accessibility.
Details of the programming can be explored on the UA website by theme, date, modality, and location at the venue section of the site. Juan Miguel Ortega, academic coordinator of the courses, emphasized that many proposals are cross and interdisciplinary and aligned with professional realities. Priority areas include health sciences, law, education, environment, equality and diversity, business and corporate affairs, arts and culture, engineering and architecture, as well as humanities.
The Arts and Culture segment offers courses that have become traditional, such as Rock and Roll Business and Contemporary Music Business, along with an international course on modern music and another on gender, women, and economics in the Middle Ages. There is even a course on voice acting and voiceover in Valencian. The Equality and Diversity section highlights two titles: joint education for peace and against sexist violence, and gender equality in the workplace.
The topics in science and environment cover subjects like the organoleptics of wine, desertification, and forest fires within the context of global change in the Valencian Community. Other offerings in this track include an introduction to Deep Learning, a primer on robotics, and musical computing for elementary education within the engineering and architecture streams.
The main commissioner and provincial head of the Alicante branch of the National Police Corps, Elm Ignatius, noted that the course addressing violence against young people, delivered by professionals, seeks to influence youth risk behavior and protect vulnerable victims, including minors who may be affected by cyberspace. Internet crime is described as a silent phenomenon due to low awareness among minors and limited parental oversight. The goal is to reduce risk and prevent harm, including potential long-term consequences for victims, who are sometimes stigmatized or left with lasting impacts. The experts teaching the course were highlighted for their contributions.
The Law School will offer three courses free for members that tackle mental illness or intellectual disability in relation to criminal law, the use of legal technology including artificial intelligence in the service of law, and updates to insolvency law and the concept of a second chance following reform. Vice Dean Ignacio Gally emphasized the high demand for information and the social concerns professionals face regarding these topics.
Lessons will run from June through September across ICALI in UA campuses at San Vicente del Raspeig and Alcoy, university venues in Alicante, as well as locations in Benissa, Calp, Cocentaina, Elda, La Nucía, Petrer, Sax, Villajoyosa, Villena, and Xixona, plus MACA and other university venues. The program draws on a broad network of partners to deliver a rich, widely accessible educational experience for students across multiple regions, with a focus on contemporary issues and practical applications. This collaboration underscores UA’s commitment to expanding international and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities and to strengthening ties with regional institutions and professional communities. The impact is measured not only in participation numbers but in the quality of engagement and the real-world relevance of the courses. The initiative is positioned as a catalyst for academic renewal and a bridge to professional pathways for learners across Canada, the United States, and beyond.