The Regional Government, "la Caixa" Foundation and the University reinforce their commitment to the rural environment

The Government of Navarra, "la Caixa" Foundation and the University of Navarra once again reinforce their commitment to the rural area of Navarra by promoting the third edition of the Revitalizing rural heritageproject . Through this program, Degree students from the University carry out internships in Navarre's municipalities at risk of depopulation. 

The Vice President for Students and International Relations of the University, Rosalía Baena; the general director of Local Administration and Depopulation of the Government of Navarra, Jesús María Rodríguez Gómez; the delegate in Navarra of "la Caixa" Foundation, Izaskun Azcona Saldías; the professor of the School of Philosophy and Letters and promoter of the program, Juan José Pons Izquierdo; and the director of the Internship and employment Service of the University, Alfonso Vericat, in a ceremony held at the academic center, took stock of the previous edition and presented the program that will run from May to September of this year. 

For this edition, the Government of Navarra and the "la Caixa" Foundation will allocate a total of 100,000 euros to the project. This contribution, which is intended to cover travel and accommodation expenses in the different locations, will allow about 40 students of Degree, Master's Degree and doctorate any School or school of the University of Navarra who have completed at least two years of university programs of study to carry out internships.

"The natural, cultural and social heritage remains rooted in the villages and its conservation and promotion generate new opportunities," assures Jesús Mari Rodríguez, director General of Local Administration and Depopulation. "The Revitalizing Rural Heritage program is an example of the necessary partnership between academia and institutions to generate a positive impact in the fight against depopulation, one of the priorities of the Government of Navarre that I represent," he adds.

Izaskun Azcona Saldías, delegate in Navarra of "la Caixa" Foundation, emphasizes: "We have an overriding goal that permeates all our areas of work: to offer more opportunities to those who need them most (leaving no one behind). In this sought-after balance, there is no doubt that we also contribute to rural development , which is even more important in a region such as Navarre. Aging, loneliness, the fragility of public services, the difficulties of access to housing... and many other challenges, make this also one of the great challenges for the "la Caixa" Foundation in Navarra".

"The Revitalizing Rural Heritage program is a sample of the benefits of the public-private partnership ; it makes it possible to join forces and address very complex problems such as depopulation. On the other hand, it opens up an important educational opportunity: firstly, because it brings young people into contact with a rural environment that they are often unfamiliar with, and which has a lot to offer them; and secondly, it is an opportunity to delve deeper into a social problem through research", emphasizes Rosalía Baena, Vice President for Students and International Relations at the University.

The internships are aimed at projects that promote three dimensions: natural heritage, with initiatives that seek the preservation, improvement and sustainable use of natural ecosystems; cultural heritage, with projects that seek the rescue and conservation of artistic and intangible assets; and social heritage, with initiatives designed to care for people, particularly the most vulnerable inhabitants of rural areas.

For the choice of internship destinations, the map of municipalities at risk of depopulation drawn up by the General Administration of Local Administration and Depopulation of the Regional Government is taken into account and the offers are published on the employment Portal of the University of Navarra. The duration of the internship depends directly on the needs of the institutions.

Results of the second edition

"The internships for university students are a net benefit for all parties involved: the students acquire professional experience related to their programs of study and learn more about the reality of the rural environment; the public and private entities that host them benefit from their work and enthusiasm; and, finally, the residents of the towns feel accompanied and grateful for the presence of young university students in their municipalities. Good test of this are the high levels of satisfaction shown in the surveys we have carried out," says Juan José Pons Izquierdo, professor at the School of Philosophy and Letters and promoter of the program.

data from the second edition of the program, which took place in 2024, were presented at the event. A total of 41 students participated, almost 25% more than those who received scholarships in the first edition, and practically all of them were their first internships with this program, since only one student repeated as a scholarship holder.

In the 2024 edition, the scholarship recipients studied at nine different centers of the University of Navarra: School of Philosophy and Letters (12), School of Communication (11), School of Education and Psychology (7), School of Nursing (3), School of Architecture (3), School of Sciences (2), School of Applied Management (1), School of Pharmacy and Nutrition (1) and the Museum of the University of Navarra (1).

There were 24 participating entities in the second edition, three more than in the previous year. Most of the entities that received interns are city councils, companies, assistance centers, associations, etc. There are also 24 municipalities in which the students carried out internships: Allo, Aoiz/Argoitz, Aribe, Barbarin, Bargota, Basaburua, Bera, Cárcar, Cascante, Dicastillo, Eratsun, Eslava, Espronceda, Fitero, Javier, Lekunberri, Miranda de Arga, Puente la Reina/Gares, San Martín de Unx, Sangüesa/Zangoza, Urroz-Villa, Valle de Ollo/Ollaran, Valle de Yerri/Deierri and Villamayor de Monjardín.