The Institute for Local Development of the University of Valencia is a research and practical and theoretical centre in the field of local development, in its broadest sense.

The Institute has developed different doctoral programmes, which are already phased out as the Doctoral Studies in Local Development and Territory, instrument of study and analysis around the new development framework, composed of economic, social and territorial elements, correlated with the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development mean that clear objectives of greater economic and social cohesion are to be considered, as well as the natural resources and cultural heritage as the basic goal of public policies.

Or as the Interuniversity Doctoral Studies in Development Aid, in which the university as institution has an important responsibility regarding to society as constitutes a space where the problem of development covers all areas of knowledge. The contribution of universities to the area of cooperation constitutes a privileged space where to contribute to the sustainability of development, compromising its enormous potential for the promotion of solidary and universal values through the use of its technical and human resources, by research on development problems, and by technical and social solutions that may arise for solving it.

This two programmes will become extinguished before 30 September 2017.