• The National Distance Education University (UNED) and the León Provincial Council are launching the 'Redprendiendo en tu pueblo' project to bring teaching closer to rural areas.
• The program will bring university training to 167 locations in 97 municipalities throughout the province.

The virtual opportunities that have opened up following the COVID-19 pandemic will allow decentralized territories with regulated and public education institutions to access higher education with the corresponding qualifications.

An example of this is the " Reprendiendo en tu pueblo" program, focused on contributing to the socio-cultural development of residents in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in the province of León, and with the following objectives:

• To improve the cultural level and reduce the digital divide experienced by adults who, at one time, lacked the opportunity to acquire the basic knowledge necessary for normal daily activities.
• Provide training that responds to technological advances and the current challenges of our society. Thus, it involves equipping people in the communities with knowledge, skills, and techniques that facilitate social and professional advancement.

In short, the program proposes a revitalization and entrepreneurship program for the region and from the region, as the training is provided by agents from the province itself.

Mixed formula

The "Redprendiendo en tu pueblo" project is led by the Chair of Sustainable Territories and Local Development , which is the implementing arm of the UNED (National University of Distance Education) to implement its "UNED and the Territory" program in the regions. The Chair collaborates with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Territory (CIET) and the Observatory of Social Rights and Sustainable Local Development to develop its methodology.

The program's courses are offered in a blended format, both in-person and online. In-person training is delivered through three components:

1. In-person sessions: with direct, personalized attention from teachers/facilitators to the student group. They last two hours and are delivered using digital tablets provided to students. This section is divided into two sections: "Digital Inclusion in Rural Areas" and "UNED in Your Territory."
2. Thematic lectures: led by specialists and delivered in person at participating locations. These lectures are also available afterward on the virtual platform.
3. Workshops: aimed at entrepreneurs in the region and held in person in participating locations. The workshops are related to the UNED Smart Campus-Smart Classrooms project and the Innovation Hub , in which CIET is collaborating on digital tools.

In turn, enrolled students have access to a virtual platform through which they can access all the materials available in the program.

Ultimately, the program seeks to promote lifelong education that responds to technological advances and the changing challenges of today's society. It aims to provide essential knowledge, skills, and techniques that facilitate the social and professional advancement of rural people, to facilitate their integration into their environment and into the social, cultural, political, and economic life of any region.