City Council and UMH finalize the launch of academic activity at the new University Headquarters in Torrevieja

Eduardo Dolón and the rector of the Miguel Hernández University, Juan José Ruiz, have reviewed the planned program for the 2026/2027 academic year and the university's installation in the new building

17.07.2026

The implementation of the Bachelor's Degree in Business and Tourism Management, the creation of the Habanera Chair, and the development of university-specific degrees and micro-credentials were the focus of the meeting. The new headquarters, shared by the UMH, the University of Alicante, and the UNED, will have capacity for more than 430 students and will open its doors at the beginning of September.

The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, and the rector of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Juan José Ruiz, together with the councilor for Education, Ricardo Recuero, the president of the Mediterranean Institute of Protocol Studies (IMEP), Jorge Rodríguez, and representatives of the UMH, held a working meeting at the City Hall to advance in the planning of the academic, training, cultural and research activities that the university institution will develop during the next academic year 2026/2027 at the new University Headquarters in Torrevieja.

The meeting served to coordinate the UMH's integration into the new building, whose inauguration and opening are scheduled for the first week of September, coinciding with the start of the academic year. The meeting also reviewed equipment needs, the distribution of teaching spaces, student services , and the implementation schedule for the various university programs.

One of the main topics discussed was the implementation in Torrevieja of the new Bachelor's Degree in Business and Tourism Management, a qualification particularly relevant to the city's economic and employment landscape. This degree, which will begin in the 2027/2028 academic year through the center affiliated with the Mediterranean Institute of Protocol Studies (IMEP), chaired by Jorge Rodríguez, will offer both in-person and online instruction, be bilingual, and follow a dual training model.

This degree will train professionals capable of performing technical, operational, coordination, and management functions in tourism companies and activities. Its curriculum will be adapted to the sector's evolving demands, including subjects related to digitalization, artificial intelligence, communication, team management, innovation, and sustainable tourism.

HABANERA CHAIR

Another highlight has been the launch of the new university chair: the Habanera Chair, an initiative that will link the academic and research activity of the UMH with an element closely linked to the cultural identity of Torrevieja.

The Habanera Chair will aim to promote the study, research, preservation, and dissemination of this musical genre, as well as strengthen the academic standing of the Torrevieja International Habanera and Polyphony Competition. Its potential areas of focus include organizing conferences, congresses, outreach activities, and research projects related to choral music and cultural heritage.

The collaboration between the two institutions will also facilitate the organization of conferences, scientific workshops, cultural activities, and meetings with researchers and specialists. The intention is for the new headquarters to remain open to the public and become a space for knowledge transfer and connection between the university, the business community, and the community.