La Universidad de Verano de La Gomera se estrena con una charla sobre el futuro de la arqueología canaria.
The Summer University of La Gomera opened its 2025 edition last Friday with an inaugural conference dedicated to the present and future of archaeology in the Archipelago. The lecture, given by Professor Cristo M. Hernández Gómez, took place in the Plenary Hall of the City Council of Vallehermoso and attracted an audience interested in the heritage and history of the Canary Islands.
Under the title ‘Present and future of Canarian archaeology’, the event served as the starting point for a new educational program organized by the Cabildo de La Gomera and the University of La Laguna, as part of their University Extension project. This initiative aims to bring academic knowledge closer to the public and strengthen the ties between the university and the island’s environment.
The first vice president of the Cabildo, Adasat Reyes, highlighted that initiatives like the Summer University of La Gomera "allow the public to engage with different topics of interest, even during the summer season." He detailed that this year’s program focuses on the island’s heritage and ethnography, "with a particularly relevant approach that is already generating high levels of participation." He also emphasized the value of inaugurating the academic initiative in Vallehermoso, "a municipality with a strong cultural tradition." He underscored that "we hope this edition will be very fruitful and beneficial for the population of La Gomera, as well as for those who visit us eager to enjoy knowledge."
On the other hand, the Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at the University of La Laguna, Antonio Aparicio, pointed to the Summer University as "a very important action, especially in a territory like the Canary Islands, where geographical fragmentation makes it even more necessary to implement initiatives that allow reaching as far as possible." This is precisely the response provided by summer universities like this one, which already has a 25-year history." He also informed about the courses that will take place in the coming weeks, aimed at the entire population and, in the case of University of La Laguna students, can be exchanged for credits. "This year, courses with a wide range of topics are offered, ranging from archaeology and anthropology to drone piloting. It is undoubtedly an opportunity and a necessity that we are assuming jointly with the participation of the Cabildo de La Gomera," he added.
The Mayor of Vallehermoso, Emiliano Coello, stated that it is "an honor and a great satisfaction for the municipality that, in this 2025 edition of the Summer University, the Cabildo de La Gomera and the University of La Laguna have chosen to kick off the event here." He also acknowledged that the inaugural lecture and its content "adds value to the program’s start, as Vallehermoso represents a key geographical and heritage enclave for the island, with elements such as the Garajonay National Park or the Silbo Gomero, both recognized as World Heritage sites. Our landscapes and natural resources, which also reflect the history and legacy of our people, are added to this."
The inaugural speaker, Cristo M. Hernández, presented his lecture "with the aim of sharing with the attendees the archaeology that we are developing from the Canary Islands, an archaeology that not only seeks to understand the past of the Islands but also to contribute to solving universal problems in different parts of the world." Thus, he expressed his interest in "teaching that archaeology is a modern, cutting-edge, and interdisciplinary science that addresses relevant and current issues. Additionally, it is essential to bring all this knowledge to the public and to make known the work we do at the University of La Laguna."
The event marks the beginning of a summer full of educational activities on the island, which will extend over the next few weeks with workshops, courses, and meetings focused on various areas of knowledge.
Also present at the inaugural event were the insular councilor for Education and Culture, Rosa Elena García; the director of the University of La Laguna’s Extension Secretariat, Abel López; the director of the Secretariat for Culture and Cultural Chairs of the same academic institution, Isabel Castells; and the councilors for Education and Culture of the City Council of Vallehermoso, Vanessa Hernández and Estrella Morales, respectively.
Educational Offer and Enrollment
The Summer University of La Gomera 2025 will offer a total of seven courses recognized for ECTS credits, as well as various workshops and parallel activities, aimed at the general public, and whose enrollment period is still open. This educational offer reinforces the commitment of the Cabildo and the University of La Laguna to universal access to knowledge and the cultural dynamism of the island territory.
The University of La Laguna, through the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and University Extension, will issue a certificate of attendance to all those who attend a minimum of 80% of the face-to-face teaching hours. Likewise, those who successfully complete the student’s independent work will receive a certificate of attendance and achievement, which can be recognized for 1 or 2 ECTS credits.
