Spanish language and cultural institute opens on City campus

Melburnians now have access to more Spanish language courses and cultural activities, with the opening of the Cervantes Institute’s office at RMIT University.

Established by the Spanish government in 1991, the Cervantes Institute is the global leader in the teaching and promotion of Spanish language and culture, with 88 centres around the world in more than 45 countries.

The Institute promotes the teaching, study and use of Spanish making RMIT’s City campus a fitting place for its new Melbourne office, given the University’s commitment to international studies.

The opening was celebrated on Monday, attended by representatives from the Victorian Government, embassies and consulates of Spanish speaking countries, Spanish-Australian Chamber of Commerce and leaders from business and academia.

(L–R) Consul of Chile, Nasly Isabel Bernal Prado; University of Canberra professor and Honorary President SRAP, Luis Salvador Carulla; Ambassador of Peru, HE Vitaliano Gallardo Valencia; Director of the Cervantes of Sydney and Melbourne, Coral Martínez Iscar; RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Design & Social Context and Vice President, Professor Tim Marshall; Ambassador of Spain in Australia, HE Alicia Morales; Consul General of El Salvador, Eileen Lizzie Lozano Granados; General Director of Acciona, Pilar Gómez Fabra; Consul General of Spain in Melbourne, CG Sergio Krsnik; Partner of the Consul General of Spain in Melbourne, Pablo de Souza; Honorary Consul of Peru, Jose Mesa.

RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Design and Social Context and Vice President Professor Tim Marshall said RMIT was truly happy to host the Institute and have it connected to the University’s rich ecosystem in Melbourne.

“At RMIT we are proud of our links with the Hispanic community, we have meaningful research and industry partnerships in Spain through our European innovation hub, RMIT Europe in Barcelona, and partnerships for student mobility in Spain and Latin America,” he said.

“Having the Cervantes Institute as a partner and part of our community will reinforce these links.”

Instituto Cervantes Sydney – Melbourne’s Director, Coral Martínez Iscar, said the inauguration was a turning point for Instituto Cervantes in Australia, within the framework of its collaboration with RMIT.

“Our goal as a non-for-profit is to promote and enhance the knowledge of Spanish and culture from all Spanish speaking countries,” she said.

“We will bring this to Melbourne with all our heart and soul, as Instituto Cervantes has been doing for more than 33 years.”

Spanish Ambassador to Australia Her Excellency Alicia Moral Revilla said it was a privilege to see how RMIT and Instituto Cervantes’ partnership had grown.

“On both sides they have worked hand in hand, with small and big obstacles to overcome. Now they have made it and we can see it grow,” she said.

“The Spanish Embassy is proud to be part of this partnership and will always support the accomplishments of this hard working team.”

Instituto Cervantes Sydney – Melbourne Director Coral Martínez Iscar at the launch of Instituto Cervantes's office at RMIT in Melbourne.

The office opening comes just a year after Spanish writer and Director General of Instituto Cervantes, Professor Luis García Montero, travelled to Melbourne to visit RMIT’s City campus and sign the partnership agreement.

Since then, RMIT and the Cervantes Institute have continued to collaborate, co-hosting cultural events in Australia and Spain.

With the office now open and the first classes being taught, the partnership is already allowing more people to learn Spanish and engage with Hispanic culture and heritage.

RMIT has a well-established language studies offering, where students can study Spanish – among other languages – as a major in the Bachelor of International Studies or as an elective.

In addition, RMIT Europe won the 2022 Malaspina Award for its contribution to scientific and cultural relationships between Spain and Australia.

About 300 students enrol across eight RMIT Spanish courses every year and with the Cervantes Institute’s new presence on campus, there are even more opportunities to learn and embrace the language and culture.

The University is working with the Cervantes Institute to host the 2nd Australian National Spanish Teaching Congress on campus in early March, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education of Spain in Australia and other entities.

Story: Aеden Ratcliffе

Art, Design and Culture

29 January 2024

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Spanish language and cultural institute opens on City campus