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Diari Valencià

UMH Sends 22 Students to 'Empty Spain' for Paid Internships

The Miguel Hernández University of Elche participates in the Campus Rural program, offering 66 months of internships with 1,000 euros monthly.

Generic image of a university student taking notes in a rural setting.
IA

Generic image of a university student taking notes in a rural setting.

The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) is sending 22 students to municipalities at risk of depopulation through the Campus Rural program, offering 66 months of paid internships with 1,000 euros per month for each participant.

The UMH is once again joining the Campus Rural program, an initiative promoted by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. This program aims for university students to complete academic internships in small towns or areas at risk of depopulation. For the 2026 edition, the university from Elche has 22 three-month placements, totaling 66 months of funded internships.
Each student will receive a grant of 1,000 euros per month, with a total budget of 88,000 euros, which includes state and university contributions. The agreement between the Ministry and the UMH was signed on March 3, renewing the university's participation in a program that has been running since 2022. According to university sources, the initiative seeks to support rural areas and raise awareness about the demographic challenge, allowing students to get to know other territories and discover professional opportunities.
The stays must take place between June 1 and September 30, although the general deadline for completion set by the state agreement is November 16. These are not strictly scholarships, as they involve a training activity and real work linked to learning, and can generate academic credits or recognition in the student's record.
Most destinations assigned by the UMH are concentrated in nearby provinces, although there are also more distant cases if the student has a personal or family interest. Key destinations include municipalities in Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Murcia, Teruel, Valencia, Pontevedra, Huesca, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, and Huelva. Placement selection is based on a scoring system of up to 10 points, considering academic records and other criteria such as previous participation or residency in the destination town.
The UMH has participated in previous calls, with 18 students benefiting in 2024 and 24 in 2025. The 2026 edition increases funding to almost 88,000 euros. This initiative has clear social interest, as it connects with existing sensitivity around the so-called 'Empty Spain,' allowing students to gain more transversal experience in small town councils and rural entities.

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