euskalkultura.eus

Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The main goals of the organizer, the Buenos Aires based Euskal Echea Association, as detailed in its bylaws, prioritize activities aimed at “establishing, promoting and strengthening ties between Argentineans and the Basques, ties of unity, friendship and love of the Basque Country as well as commitment to instill cultural values of the Basque people its traditions, language, history, folklore, art and other manifestations.” And it was with this wish that the Summer Basque University (UVV) was established in 2008 in Buenos Aires.

The proposal was very successful during the first five years, in regards to number of students as well as the contribution to Basque culture.  In this way, some of its accomplishments should be mentioned, including the publication of five books that include research done by students of the UVV.

6^th Edition Cancelled

According to its December newsletter, the Summer Basque University 2014 was going to be held February 17-28^th.  Nevertheless, in a more recent communication, the coordinator of the project Enrique Aramburu, announced that the 6^th edition of UVV was going to be cancelled.  In his words, “this year, due to low enrollment, we have decided to not hold the UVV.  This doesn’t meant that we have given up on activities related to Basque studies at the Euskal Echea (remember that this is part of its statutes).  However, we have decided that the 2014 courses will be given throughout the year as part of a program of the Advanced Center for Studies at the club,” he says.

Along with the statement, Aramburu detailes the new proposal:  “This transitional program is based on what has happened at previous Basque Summer University programs; in addition there will be a library organized, with the participation of the educational community at Euskal Echea and courses, at least some of them, will be scored by teachers. Just as we have done for the last five years of UVV, there will also be some sort of relationship with the campus in Llavallol, as well as current Euskal Echea teachers giving some of the courses.  Finally, and also in the same spirit of UVV, we will seek to attain the highest level of study as possible working with the concept of “university” as a group of people.”

Activities will begin in April

Activities will begin in April and the tentative program includes: classes on Wednesdays from 18:00 to 19:15 and 19:45 to 21:15 in the following order: History and Geography in April, History and architecture in May; History and Euskera in June; Music and Dance in September; Economy and Gastronomy in October and Mythology and Literature in November.

Looking to the future, UVV organizers are not discounting the possibility of holding classes again in the summer; however, they anticipate having to fulfill certain conditions in order to do so.  Finally, on behalf of Euskal Echea, Enrique Aramburu expresses his gratitude to everyone who has participated in one way or another in the project.  He also invites anyone interested to follow the University in this new stage, “God willing, and so do we, it will be as or more fruitful than it was before.”