The EU–GIFT advisory board in La Rioja meets at the University of La Rioja to report on key progress, activities carried out and strategic lines

The Boardroom of the Rectorate Building hosted, on Friday 13 February, the meeting of the EU–GIFT Advisory Board in La Rioja, the European alliance led by the University of La Rioja and comprising six other European universities, to report on the main progress achieved, activities carried out, and its strategic lines of action.

The meeting brought together representatives of EU–GIFT in La Rioja, the European alliance led by the University of La Rioja, which includes six additional European universities.

EU–GIFT brings together seven universities from France, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Portugal and Italy with the aim of promoting sustainability and innovation in the production of food and beverages with geographical identity.

Convened and chaired by the Rector of the University of La Rioja, Eva Sanz Arazuri, the meeting introduced the EU–GIFT Alliance to the Advisory Board, highlighting its strengths and potential, and thanking the Board members for their participation, underlining their importance in the development and impact of the actions proposed within the alliance.

During the meeting, the main progress achieved, activities carried out and strategic lines of the EU–GIFT alliance were addressed, as well as the coordinating role of the University of La Rioja.

Carmen Novo Urraca, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, together with the Alliance Coordinator, Elena González Fandos, presented the annual report on the activities carried out during the first year of the alliance, as well as an overview of the initiatives planned for the coming months.

The Advisory Board highlighted the role of the University of La Rioja as coordinator of the alliance, acting as a point of connection and support for all partner universities.

Among other matters, the structure of EU-GIFT by work packages was presented, detailing the themes and lines of action of each; the in-person meetings already held in Logroño, Eger (Hungary) and Bordeaux (France); as well as the upcoming face-to-face meeting scheduled in Cluj-Napoca (Romania).

The coordinating role of the University of La Rioja was once again emphasised, acting as a key connection and support hub for all partner institutions.

In this context, the Welcome Week was recently held simultaneously across all alliance universities from 2 to 6 February; the Micro-credential “Sustainable Agriculture” was delivered with joint participation from all institutions through teaching, student recruitment or both; and the seminar “Forensic Genetics Applied to the Food Sector: Wine as a Case Study” was delivered by UTAD (Portugal).

In the near future, the tEU-GIFT Employability Fair will take place in March at the University of La Rioja, followed by Sport Week in April at the University of Verona (Italy).

The EU–GIFT Advisory Board in La Rioja has agreed to meet periodically throughout the year in order to contribute its vision and make the alliance’s initiatives more attractive, productive and beneficial for the university community. It represents a crucial consultative and strategic asset, providing internal and external expertise and perspectives to guide the Alliance’s leadership towards growth and development.

Who are the members of the advisory board

 

The EU-GIFT Advisory Board is chaired by Rector Eva Sanz Arazuri. Its members also include:

  • Carmen Novo, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation

  • Elena González Fandos, EU-GIFT Alliance Coordinator at the University of La Rioja

  • Former Rector Juan Carlos Ayala Calvo, appointed as representative of the University of La Rioja on the EU-GIFT Advisory Board

  • Noemí Manzanos Martínez, from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs and Environment of the Government of La Rioja

In addition, the Advisory Board of EU-GIFT in La Rioja includes:

  • Professors and researchers Julia Arbizu Milagro and Celia Arraiz Fernández, from the Department of Agriculture and Food

  • Marcos Latorre Villaverde, President of the Student Council of the University of La Rioja

  • Santiago Vivanco Sáenz, from Bodegas Vivanco

  • Carmen López de Murillas Herce, from Herchamp 2017

  • Fernando Baroja, from Grupo Cidacos

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