A total of 56 students have benefited from the first edition of the "UCLM Rural" programme, which is currently underway and with which the University of Castilla-La Mancha wishes to make a contribution towards tackling depopulation in rural areas. Its resounding success with over 300 university applications and 180 companies and/or institutions interested in participating, has encouraged the academic institution to work on increasing the amount of work placements provided in the next edition
The University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) will strive to reach a higher numer of work placement students in the next edition of the UCLM Rural programme: university students facing depopulation, after the high demand and the resounding success achieved at present. As the chancellor of the UCLM, Julián Garde, put it during the ceremony for presenting the implementation report for the first edition of the programme, held in Ciudad Real.
The report, published by the Vice-chancellor´s office for Innovation, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ángela González, shows over 300 applications from students have been made to cover 56 work placements at 180 companies and institutions attached to the programme and located in municipalities of under 5000 inhabitantes in the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo.
The programme has been carried out in two periods: the first from July to September has enabled 34 university students to join; and the other 22 will join between October and December. The programme will enable all of them to gain new professional skills by means of tutoring from companies and institutions, to become aware of the career opportunities in rural areas and have a greater connection to the land, all of which are objectives of "UCLM Rural".
After showing the results, the UCLM chancellor confirmed the programme had been a "success", and is beneficial " both for students and rural areas, on account of the talent and knowledge the former provide to small municipalities and the training given to young people in these areas. He also thanked companies, institutions and students for participating in this programme.
Likewise, in the next edition of UCLM Rural which the university will launch in January, the chancellor mentioned a possible change will be made to the academic design. In this respect, he stated that the university is studying the possibility of "linking student work placements" to comprehensive projects in municipalities of under 5000 inhabitants, in such a way that " not only are students involved in just one locality, but in various ones to differing degrees which may tackle comprehensive problems with a multidisciplinary outlook".
UCLM Communication Office Ciudad Real, 13th of October 2021