USJ Senior is aimed at students over the age of 50 and offers three educational programs: the Senior Diploma in Contemporary Culture and Civilization, the Expert Diploma in Thought and Creativity, and the Expert Diploma in Geopolitics and Security, focused on analyzing the international context of the 21st century.
The inaugural event held on Monday afternoon featured a lecture by Francisco García García, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, who delivered the talk “The Treaty of Zaragoza (1529). Cartographic Tricks, Espionage, Diplomacy and the Origins of Globalization.”
During his presentation, the speaker addressed one of the first major geopolitical conflicts with global reach, in which the crowns of Spain and Portugal vied for control of the Moluccas Islands, which were strategically important because of their wealth of spices and significance for international trade. The lecturer explained how, in the 16th century, “the manipulation of scientific measurements, cartographic fraud, bribery and espionage operations became tools serving the interests of both powers.”
The professor also presented examples of cartographers’ escapes, double-agent activities, sabotage, assassination attempts and map falsifications in the context of this rivalry. The lecture concluded with an explanation of how the Treaty of Zaragoza helped connect the economies of Asia, America and Europe, laying the foundations for contemporary globalization.
ACTIVE AGING
Lourdes Diego, vice president for Students and University Outreach at Universidad San Jorge, highlighted “the importance of lifelong learning, which is one of the university’s main missions and a cornerstone of its educational activity.”
In this regard, she stressed that continuing education is a strategic priority in the educational policies of leading international organizations, which aim to guarantee learning opportunities throughout all stages of life, regardless of socioeconomic circumstances.
She also noted that adult education contributes both to personal development and social progress, while promoting active and healthy aging, strengthening skills, and facilitating self-fulfillment and the discovery of new talents.
In this context, she highlighted the role of senior education in democratizing access to knowledge and fostering intergenerational relationships, concluding that “lifelong learning is a tool for comprehensive development whose benefits extend beyond the individual and have an impact on society as a whole.”
Carlos Buil, director of USJ Senior, said he shared “the special excitement with which the new academic year begins, conceived as a space for learning, dialogue and friendship that forms part of the students’ daily lives.” Buil also thanked the students for their trust in and loyalty to Universidad San Jorge’s educational project. As evidence of this demand, he said that only 58% of applicants had been able to secure a place, a figure that reflects growing interest in senior education.
USJ SENIOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Universidad San Jorge launched USJ Senior in the 2019-2020 academic year to meet the educational needs of people over the age of 50 and offer them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and continue learning in a university setting.
The program began with the three-year Senior Diploma in Contemporary Culture and Civilization. Later, in October 2022, the Expert Diploma in Thought and Creativity was added, structured over two academic years.
The offering was completed in 2024 with the Expert Diploma in Geopolitics and Security, which explores the international context of the 21st century, current geopolitical actors and their strategic interests, as well as knowledge of security and the challenges of the globalization era.
