The Interuniversity Degree in Physics, shared by the universities of Almería and Huelva, is entering its second academic year with a successful implementation strategy. This academic year, 2026/2027, welcomes the second cohort, who will follow a campus rotation model to foster a sense of belonging to both institutions from the outset.
First-year students in Huelva were welcomed in Almería over two days, familiarizing themselves with both the city and the campus. This initiative will be mirrored in the second semester, when first-year students from Almería will visit the UHU facilities and explore Huelva city. The aim is to ease their adaptation to future location changes and highlight the benefits of mobility inherent in an interuniversity degree.
The official welcome for the delegation from the University of Huelva, led by its Vice-Rector for Research and Strategic Planning, José Enrique García, included the presence of the UAL's Vice-Rector for Students, Encarna Carmona, and the Vice-Rector for Degrees and Teaching Innovation, María Angustias Martos, along with the Dean of the Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Juan José Moreno, and the Coordinator of the Physics Degree at UAL, Antonio Puertas. The message of unity and belonging to both universities was unanimous.
Encarna Carmona emphasized that "all the services we have are also yours" and encouraged students to be participatory and offer suggestions. She highlighted the importance of face-to-face interaction for group formation and the quality of studies, laboratories, and specialized training offered by both institutions.
María Angustias Martos noted the degree's successful implementation, calling it a challenge overcome that optimizes material and faculty resources. She stressed that student mobility enriches education and that faculty research exchange fosters joint studies across all branches of Physics.
José Enrique García shared a "fantastic impression" of the project, acknowledging the "essential union" with Almería for its implementation and describing the current relationship as "extraordinary." He expressed his sense of belonging to Almería, "as part of my home," and reaffirmed the idea that students belong to two universities.
Juan José Moreno described the degree as "fundamental" for the Faculty of Experimental Sciences, being the first interuniversity degree with real student mobility. He noted that the day-to-day operations of the second year are running "perfectly, much better than we expected," despite some students from Huelva attending classes online. He highlighted the quality of the Physics laboratories in Almería.
Student Óscar Gómez described the experience as "very good," despite the initial distance between cities. "The distance from home is just a number, but the campus experience is wonderful," he stated, highlighting the "very good" facilities at UAL, the quality of the teaching staff, and the well-coordinated program, which he considers a "great opportunity" and a necessary offering for both provinces.
