TORREVIEJA — The UNED (National Distance Education University) in Torrevieja has reached a significant milestone, achieving its first-ever “Full Capacity” rating for its recent course, “Life on the Banks of the Nile: Ancient Egypt.”
The lecture hall at the International Conservatory of Torrevieja was packed every afternoon for the seven-session course, which ran from November 4 to November 26.
The Success Story: ‘The Nile Overflowed’
Jesucristo Riquelme, coordinator of UNED Torrevieja, likened the success to the flooding of the Nile, noting that the demand exceeded the most optimistic forecasts. He attributed the success to several key factors:
- Exceptional Speaker: The lecturer, Santiago Mallebrera, was praised for his “dynamism, knowledge of Egypt, and method of transmitting” the subject matter.
- Word-of-Mouth Promotion: The course attracted both habitual students and a large influx of newcomers drawn by stories of pharaohs and pyramids.
- Good Weather: Favourable weather encouraged the predominantly senior student body to leave their homes for the afternoon classes.
Students were captivated by Mallebrera’s approach, which focused less on the typical “glitter and gold” of tombs and more on everyday life in Ancient Egypt—covering family life, the role of women (who had rights such as divorce and property ownership), the work of scribes, and even the importance of household pets, particularly cats.
Beyond Age: The University of the Curious
Mallebrera, who directs the translation workshop for the ITERU Egyptology association, concluded the course by redefining the student body. He stated, “This is not the university of the elderly; I call it the university of the curious. Because you are defined not by your age, but by your desire, will, interest, and eagerness to learn.”
The successful lecturer is already being considered for a role in the new 2026-2027 academic year.
Up Next: Contemporary Alternative Energy
The UNED’s focus shifts from the ancient world to contemporary challenges next week. The third course of the academic year, titled “Contemporary Alternative Energy,” begins on Monday, December 1st.
The program will cover:
- Four sessions on marine wind energy, led by civil engineer Lara Cerdán Aznar.
- Later sessions on unconventional hydrocarbon extraction and electric power generation, led by civil engineering doctor Aláa Jasim Dakheel Almalik and industrial engineer José Manuel Pedrero.
