MITECO's "Rural Campus" program has been awarded the best local development initiative in Europe.

The 'Rural Campus' program, promoted by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) , has been distinguished as the best Local Development initiative in Europe 2025 by the Innovation in Politics Institute , in collaboration with the European Capital of Democracy .

The award, granted after a jury vote of 1,086 people from 25 countries, recognizes the program's work in connecting university students with rural communities to boost the socioeconomic development of small municipalities and combat depopulation.

In this year's edition, 750 students from 44 public universities were able to complete internships in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, joining the more than 1,500 young people who participated in previous sessions. With a 96% satisfaction rate , the program proves to be an experience that transcends academics, generating professional opportunities and revitalizing rural areas.

Vice President Sara Aagesen emphasized that this award reinforces the Government's commitment to policies addressing the demographic challenge and announced that the new National Strategy to Address the Demographic Challenge will continue to set ambitious goals. Secretary General Paco Boya emphasized that the Rural Campus demonstrates that "our towns are territories of opportunity."

The program offers paid internships with a monthly stipend of 1,000 euros plus Social Security , lasting between two and five months. In addition to MITECO, it has support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the CRUE (Spanish University of Science and Innovation) .