GESPLAN UPM
GESPLAN UPM
GESPLAN UPM
The Gesplan Group was created at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in 2006 under the direction of Dr Adolfo Cazorla. It brings together a group of professors and researchers who have been working in the Projects and Planning area for a sustainable Rural Development of the communities, for the last 20 years. The members of the group include young researchers and professionals in agronomic engineering, industrial engineering and economics, who combine their teaching and research work with an intense professional life. This group of experts has extensive experience in development planning and management, program evaluation, project management, and the problems associated with underdevelopment in rural areas.
The Group collaborates with governments, universities and companies in the elaboration of development programs in local, regional and national spheres, as well as in various works of evaluation of policies related to the regional and rural development of the EU, education, research, or development cooperation. These collaborative relationships have led us to work with international organizations -such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) or the General Directorate of Agriculture of the European Union-; national governments -such as those of Spain, Mexico, Peru or Uruguay-; or prestigious universities -such as Wageningen, Cork, Graduate College, Stanford, UC. Berkeley, or UC. The Angels-.
The Group's objective is to interdisciplinary approach to problems related to rural / local development; both in terms of the dramatic situations in developing countries, and in the specific problems of the most disadvantaged regions of developed countries.
The Group intends to take advantage of the experience of the professionals that comprise it to find solutions to these problems. The actions to be carried out are not unique and independent. On the contrary, more than specific actions, it is a package of projects and activities, which must be carried out simultaneously, in order to eradicate the problems associated with underdevelopment. For this, planning, management and evaluation models are needed that, starting from a knowledge of reality, improve the way of approaching development programs and projects. What is intended within the group is to collaborate in the development of adequate models for such planning, management and evaluation, in addition to being interested in specific problems such as the gender perspective, regional decentralization or food security.
Since the group was created, the research work has been continuous, as well as the contact and collaboration with other researchers and groups from Spanish, European and American universities. Since June 2017 the director of the group is Dr. Ignacio de los Ríos. In this regard, the interests of the group focus on:
Promote spaces for research and cooperation in the European, North American and Latin American fields. Share experiences and collaborate with other groups with related interests, principles and lines of research. Facilitate the contact, exchange and stay of other researchers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.