Iranzu Fernández, a recent graduate of Degree in design of the School of Architecture, is one of the 42 students from the University of Navarra who have carried out internships during the last few months thanks to the program'Revitalizing rural heritage'. This program aims to promote the local development through research, training and paid internships for students in Navarre municipalities considered at risk of depopulation.

During her internship, Iranzu had the opportunity to work at Bizi Codésa tourism business focused on the Sierra de Codés, on the border between Navarra and Alava, whose goal is to publicize the architectural, artistic, natural and cultural heritage of the area, promoting a dynamic manager.

In her internship, Iranzu has created a heritage inventory and, from the material generated, has developed a tourist package, detecting the points of greatest interest and generating a pathway for visits at group.

"The program has allowed me to combine my knowledge in design with a practical approach oriented to the preservation and revitalization of cultural and natural heritage in the tourism sector, which is of great interest to me," says Iranzu. "In addition, working in such a unique environment as the Sierra de Codés has been an enriching experience and has allowed me to stay and work in Navarra this summer," she adds.  

Finally, he recommends this internship subject and comments: "They offer a unique opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a real context, with a tangible impact on the local rural community. It is a very nice and fulfilling goal ."

Revitalizing rural heritage' was born from a agreement between the University of Navarra, the General Administration of Local Administration and Depopulation of the Government of Navarra and the "la Caixa" Foundation, entities that finance it. The internships in companies and entities, aimed at students of Degree, are managed by the Internship Service and employment of the University.