On January 29, 2024, leaders from the University of Oviedo, including Rector Ignacio Villaverde and Vice Provost for Institutional Relations and Coordination Humberto Rodriguez visited Temple University to strengthen the partnership between the University of Oviedo and Temple, and to celebrate 20 years since the Temple in Spain Program first began.
Rector Villaverde and his team met with Temple President Richard M. Englert; the deans of the College of Liberal Arts, Engineering, Science and Technology and the Fox School of Business; and Vice Provost of Global Engagement Emilia Zankina, and her team to discuss additional opportunities for collaboration between the two universities, including joint research projects and increased student mobility.
Despite the great physical distance between these two universities, both are public institutions that prioritize access to higher education for students with limited economic resources.
“With more courses in English offered on our Temple in Spain Program, more students will have the chance for a life-changing experience like the one I had as an international student while immersing themselves in Spanish culture and language.”
Vice Provost Emilia Zankina
So far, nearly a thousand students have benefited from the partnership in the past two decades.
The recent addition of the University of Oviedo’s English-taught courses in business, economics, electrical engineering, and computer science, will enable Temple students from more disciplines to study in Oviedo.
“With more courses in English offered on our Temple in Spain Program, more students will have the chance for a life-changing experience like the one I had as an international student while immersing themselves in Spanish culture and language,” said Vice Provost Zankina.
The continuing focus of the collaboration will be the academic exchange of teachers and students with the addition of joint research projects. Some areas for joint research include chemistry, engineering, computer science, medicine, economics, biology and psychology. Meeting participants also proposed searching for EU funding to facilitate research.
University of Oviedo’s rector also offered to host a week in Oviedo to promote the Temple in Spain Program, an idea embraced by Temple.
Commemorating two decades of collaboration
In the afternoon, a university-wide celebration brought together stakeholders from administrators to program alumni. Rector Ignacio Villaverde and his entourage joined Temple President Richard M. Englert, Provost Gregory Mandel, College of Liberal Arts Dean Richard Deeg (who served as MC), Temple in Spain Resident Director Jaime Durán and Vice Provost Emilia Zankina at Temple’s Performing Arts Center.
President Englert highlighted his joy in celebrating almost 60 years in Rome, 40+ years in Japan and now 20 years in Oviedo. “These campuses and programs represent our strong commitment to globalization, which stems from Temple founder Russell Conwell’s vision to democratize, diversify and widen the reach of higher education,” he said.
“One student at a time, we work towards making the world a better place.”
Program Director Jaime Durán
Rector Villaverde stressed that the agreement between the two universities marks a new level of exchange, knowledge and excellence.
“Our agreement, which reflects our shared vision, is the foundation on which we will write a new chapter of achievements in our long history of cooperation,” said Villaverde, pointing out how the program has served as a turning point in students’ personal and academic lives.
Three program alumni—Molly Clark (CLA ’23), Shannon Peak Bernardo (CLA ’12) and Abheya Nair (CST ’25)—concluded the program by unanimously affirming the difference that the Temple in Spain Program has made in their lives.
“One student at a time, we work towards making the world a better place,” said Program Director Jaime Durán in introducing the program alumni.
Bernardo, the first alumna speaker explained, “I know that I sound like the stereotypical study abroad student when I say that this program changed my life. But truly, this program shaped my learning, my career and my life in ways that I am still uncovering.”
Previously: Celebrating 20 years of Temple in Spain
By Lisa Z. Meritz, Director of Marketing & Communications for Global Engagement
Photo credits: Joseph V. Labolito, Temple University; Ryan S. Brandenberg, Temple University; Pablo Zariquiegui, University of Oviedo;
Feature Photo: Richard M. Englert, President, Temple University (left) and Ignacio Villaverde, Rector, University of Oviedo (right) meet to discuss ways to enhance collaboration between the two universities.