The University of Alicante (UA) will take part in the Fira de Tots Sants in Cocentaina for the sixth consecutive year, running from 30 October to 1 November. The university will have its own stand located on Passeig del Comtat, one of the main sites of this traditional fair.
Organised by the UA's Cocentaina University Venue, the initiative will feature activities focused on scientific outreach, culture, research, university guidance, and the promotion of multilingualism, aiming to connect the local community with the university's offerings.
The official opening of the Fira de Cocentaina is scheduled for 30 October at 11:00. However, due to an official mourning period following a train accident in Toledo, the inauguration will consist solely of the reading of the Privilegi.
Representatives from the UA attending the event will include Catalina Iliescu, Vice-Rector for Culture, Sport and University Extension; María Jesús Pastor, Vice-Rector for Transfer, Entrepreneurship and Scientific Outreach; Larissa Timofeeva, Deputy Vice-Rector for University Extension; José Luis Todolí, Deputy Vice-Rector for Knowledge Transfer; and José Miguel Molina, Director of the Cocentaina University Venue.
Throughout the three-day event, the UA's stand will consist of three modules that combine permanent information areas with a programme of practical and participatory activities suitable for various age groups. The stand will feature the Publications Service, showcasing titles from its L'Ordit and Gastronomy collections, along with a selection of other works published by the university.
The UA's Information Service will provide details about the institution's academic offerings, including undergraduate degrees, master's programmes, and continuing education, as well as information on various university services. Additionally, the Vice-Rectorate for Research will present key research lines and recent achievements, highlighting the scientific resources available to researchers and the scientific activities undertaken at the institution.
The Language Service, under the Vice-Rectorate for Lifelong Learning and Languages, will introduce its programmes and projects aimed at promoting multilingualism and linguistic diversity. A new feature this year will be a shop offering a selection of products branded with the University of Alicante logo, serving as a smaller-scale version of the UA Store located on campus.
In addition to these fixed spaces, the stand's programme will include initiatives driven by various units and vice-rectorates of the UA. On 30 October, the Vice-Rectorate for Transfer, Entrepreneurship and Scientific Outreach will host the activity "Art with Science: the Sounds of Stones," which explores the relationship between art and science. On the morning of 31 October, an immersive journey into ancient and medieval writing will be offered, followed by an afternoon activity titled "Bags of Earth and Sea: the History of Valencian Migrations," focusing on the memory and movements of Valencian migrants.
The Mediterranean Gastronomy Centre Gasterra-UA will conduct an olive oil workshop, while the Sports Service, part of the Vice-Rectorate for Culture, Sport and University Extension, will organise activities related to traditional Valencian games, providing an engaging experience for attendees at the fair.
Participation in the Fira de Tots Sants presents an opportunity to strengthen the University of Alicante's relationship with Cocentaina, thanks to its university venue, as well as with the surrounding regions. It also serves to inform the public about the university's educational, research, cultural, and knowledge transfer activities. The organisation of the university's presence is managed by the Cocentaina University Venue, which maintains the UA's connection with the locality throughout the year and helps bring university activities closer to the community.
With its involvement in this year's edition, the University of Alicante is solidifying its presence at one of the most significant traditional events in the Valencian Community and reinforcing its commitment to the dissemination of knowledge, culture, and the connection between the university, territory, and society.
