María Carro Pitarch, a  Law + Business Management and Administration graduate of the Universitat de València, was the winner of the Cañada Blanch Foundation - Universitat de València 2021. With this €7,000 worth prize, the foundation offers the winner the opportunity to stay at the London School of Economics for three months to carry out a research project.

Among the attendees and participants at the award ceremony were M. Vicenta Mestre, principal of the Universitat de València; Juan Viña, president of the Cañana Blanch Foundation; Isabel Vázquez, vice-principal for Studies; Paula Sánchez, director of the Cañada Blanch Foundation; and the winner of the prize, as well as her professors, family and peers.

Every year, the strategic partnership between the Cañada Blanch Foundation, the Universitat de València (UV) and the London School of Economics (LSE) makes it possible to offer this prize, which acknowledges talent and academic effort of graduates of the Universitat de València.

Thanks to the Cañada Blanch Centre at the LSE, the winner gains access to the LSE's facilities and educational and recreational programme, as well as to other academic institutions in the UK. Hence, during her three-month stay in London, María Carro will attend seminars, workshops, conferences and will establish links with the various departments of the prestigious British university. She will also have access to a wide range of resources and will be able to connect with academicians, other doctoral students and business professionals. María Carro will be supported and oriented by Dr. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Princesa de Asturias full university professor, director of the Cañada Blanch foundation and global reference in Economic Geography.

María studied a double degree in Law + Business Management and Administration at the Universitat de València. She has also studied a Master’s degree in European Legal Studies (LLM) at the renowned College of Europe (Belgium) and she is currently studying a doctorate in International Law at the Universitat de València. The research project that she defended before the evaluation panel and that she will be able to develop at the LSE focuses on the protection of marine biological biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

So far, 15 people have benefitted from the Cañada Blanch foundation - Universitat de València Prize. With this award, the three institutions involved are looking to encourage knowledge exchange with the United Kingdom as well as to stimulate social innovation through research, dialogue and critical thinking.