Desmitificar la migración africana: Campus África 2025
The international program Campus África of the University of La Laguna, organized by the Canary Foundation for the Control of Tropical Diseases, unveiled this morning in a press conference its extensive agenda of activities, which under the title ‘African migrations: myths, realities, and challenges’, will focus on the challenge of demystifying the limiting beliefs surrounding the African migratory phenomenon.
During the presentation, the mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, highlighted the honor it represents for the municipality to «host such a relevant event as this Campus, which has established itself over time as a reference space for reflection, debate, and citizen awareness, always led by international experts who bring their particular vision of this social situation that we experience every day in the islands.»
From the co-direction of Campus África, José Gómez Soliño, Basilio Valladares, and Inmaculada González took the floor, thanking the sponsoring entities and collaborators for the support received by Campus África. «Seven editions already of a project that seeks to contribute to scientific, social, and cultural development by building bridges of understanding between the Canary Islands and Africa through the talent of its young people. In the next two weeks, the scholarship recipients will face intense training sessions and also moments of coexistence and exchange that will, we are sure, favor the development and progress of the territories of West Africa,» Valladares added. For his part, Gómez Soliño asserted that «only by preparing the future through reflection and education can we face great challenges, and migratory movements are one of them. That is why this year we look with reflective and critical eyes at the factors that are driving a growing number of Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans to embark on increasingly risky journeys in search of an uncertain future.» Next, Inmaculada González highlighted the interest that the planned research meetings have already generated, in which prestigious professionals from Morocco, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and, of course, the Canary Islands will participate.
On behalf of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Director General of Universities, Ciro Gutiérrez, stated that «through training and cooperation, links are created that will endure over time. Science improves living conditions, guides public decisions, and provides solutions from the everyday to the structural.» Likewise, the regional Vice-Minister of the Presidency, Alfonso Cabello, emphasized that «Africa is an opportunity and a reality that marks the day-to-day life of the Canary Islands. We must work on the idea that the islands can support and accompany the African continent, always hand in hand with universities, in many areas of development.»
The Director of External Action and Institutional Relations of the Tenerife Island Council, Pedro González, also highlighted the great trajectory of Campus África and «the effort involved in the logistics of this event by the organizers and the monitoring of the various conclusions drawn in each edition.»
Finally, the rector of the ULL, Francisco García, emphasized the special participation of the academic institution in this year’s edition, which has scheduled a dozen research meetings on varied topics such as renewable energies, Pan-Africanism, educational transformation, humanitarian aid, or cultural heritage. «The future African leaders» are trained at Campus África, stated Francisco García, who also affirmed that he is «very proud to lead a university that is useful to society and provides solutions.»
The proposal for this edition of Campus África, which will take place between July 12 and 25, is structured around three axes: causes and consequences of African migrations; biosanitary challenges linked to poverty and emerging diseases; and cultural relations in a context of human mobility, causes and consequences of a global phenomenon. Additionally, this year introduces a parallel program in the form of ‘Researcher Encounters’ where different themes on the Canary Islands-Africa relationship will be addressed. In total, over 50 international and national experts will participate, offering keynote speeches on these topics, always focusing on the current migratory reality in the Canary Islands.
This international program maintains its commitment to building a dynamic knowledge community by involving scientific and higher education institutions in the continental and Atlantic environment. This year, a total of 54 scholarship recipients from Senegal and Cape Verde will benefit. Additionally, as usual, the organization offers the opportunity to share this educational and informative space with citizens who wish to visit the different venues, creating an environment of coexistence and reflection. The program can be consulted on the official Campus website: www.campusafrica.org.
Highlighted Conferences
On July 14, the conference series will kick off at the University of La Laguna’s Paraninfo (10:00 am) with the opening keynote by economist and professor from Guinea Bissau, Carlos Lopes, who has been the African Union’s High Representative for negotiations with Europe since 2018. On July 16, renowned human rights advocate and general director of the Karibú Association, Nicole Ndongala, will address the scholarship recipients alongside the authorities of the Government of the Canary Islands. In the afternoon of the same day, one of Campus África’s flagship events will take place, Mandela Day, featuring a keynote address by political scientist and philosopher, Sami Naïr.
On July 25, Campus África will conclude the current edition with the closing ceremony (Friday, July 25 at the Royal Economic Society of Friends of Tenerife).
Sponsorships and Collaborations
Campus África is sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands, Tenerife Island Council, and the City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and is further supported by the collaboration of CajaCanarias, CajaSiete, Caixabank, Loro Parque Foundation, Binter, Loro Parque, Cofarte, Cinfa, the College of Pharmacists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Melcan, adDiagNost, the Canary Foundation for the Control of Tropical Diseases, the Vice-Rectorate of Internationalization and Cooperation of the University of La Laguna, CiberInfec, the Royal Economic Society of Tenerife, the Canary Islands Parliament, Casa África, and the Canarian Association for the Progress of Macaronesia.
