Last Monday, January 10, the Spring 2011 edition of the UPF Study Abroad Program was inaugurated, with 457 registered students coming from universities from the United States of America and Canada. It is the highest number of participants since the beginning of the program, which started seven years ago.

On this occasion, the new UPF Legal Studies Abroad Program was inaugurated by the Vice-Rector for International Relations at the UPF, Dr. Josep Ferrer, who gave the opening lecture "Individual Rights versus Family Protection in Europe and America: Comparative Reflections". The program is addressed to high-profile students coming from the most prestigious UPF partner universities and institutions, and has been designed in collaboration with the UPF Faculty of Law, which makes it all together a unique and leading academic program in Europe.

Lucía Conte, Director of the UPF Study Abroad Program, gave the official welcome session and explained the new projects that will be implemented throughout the current academic year, which will provide the program's academic course offering with innovative and cohesive topics.

Thus, the PEE will be offering three new programs linked to different UPF faculties and departments: the UPF Legal Studies Abroad Program and two summer schools, "Nationalism and Identity" (in collaboration with the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences) and "Barcelona Movie Set" (in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication). Furthermore, a new summer school on "Hispanic Cultures", organized with the Faculty of Humanities, and a new cross-curricular program called "Independent Research Abroad", will be offered in the following academic year 2011-2012.