The Campus América 2026, dedicated exclusively to Chile, was officially closed on 30 October at the Sala de Cámara of the Teatro Leal in La Laguna. Over the past two weeks, the University of La Laguna and the city have hosted thirty research seminars, thematic exhibitions, business meetings, and a comprehensive agenda of events involving 300 speakers from 56 universities across 14 countries.
During the closing ceremony, the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, expressed that the efforts made to organise the campus and the fatigue it caused were worthwhile. He highlighted the significance of the event, which was underscored by the presence of notable figures at its inauguration, including the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Chilean ambassador to Spain, Juan Antonio Coloma.
García also noted that the forum provided a platform for a bilateral academic summit attended by 42 rectors from Chile and Spain. He acknowledged the vital contribution of the Chilean community in Tenerife, whose visibility has increased due to this gathering.
Rafael Montet del Pino, the Honorary Consul of Chile in the Canary Islands, presented an institutional recognition to the Association of Chileans Living in the Canary Islands (ASCULCHICAN), a key entity in the cultural activities of Campus América 2026. The award was received by the association's director, Cristian Alfaro Corrales, who described it as a “birthday gift,” as the association celebrated its sixteenth anniversary in October.
Alfaro praised Montet del Pino for his efforts in bridging the gap between the Chilean Embassy in Madrid and the Chilean community in the Canary Islands. The closing event also featured a cultural element with a performance by Diego Navarro, a composer from Tenerife known for the original score of the film “Winnipeg, el barco de la esperanza,” which recounts the month-long journey of a ship chartered by Pablo Neruda to provide a new life for 2,500 Spanish passengers fleeing the Civil War.
Navarro remarked that the story represents “an act of generosity that, although set in the 1930s, is more relevant than ever” in light of the ongoing migration crisis.
