USM HOSTS 4TH CELEAP CONGRESS – ADVANCING THE TEACHING AND PROMOTION OF SPANISH IN ASIA-PACIFIC
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) successfully hosted the 4th Congress of Spanish as a Foreign Language in Asia-Pacific (CELEAP 2026) on 19–20 September 2026, marking a historic milestone as the first international conference at USM conducted entirely in Spanish.
Jointly organised by the Spanish Education Office in Southeast Asia, the Cervantes Institute in Manila, the Embassy of Spain in Kuala Lumpur, and USM’s School of Languages, Literacies and Translation (SoLLaT), the congress provided a unique platform for educators, researchers, academics, and professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to engage and exchange ideas in Spanish.
Held under the theme “Spanish in the Digital Era: Practices, Challenges and Opportunities”, the two-day congress brought together approximately 65 participants from 15 countries at USM’s lush green campus in Penang.
The event featured 39 academic papers and four plenary lectures, focusing on methodological innovation, digital resources, bilingual programmes, student motivation, and the internationalisation of Spanish language teaching.
Invited speakers included Dr. María Méndez Santos, Dr. José Miguel Blanco Pena, Dr. Pilar Salamanca, and Raquel Romero Guillemas, representing diverse institutions and expertise in Spanish language education.
The congress was further enriched by the support of collaborating organisations such as Editorial Edinumen, Editorial Difusión, Nebrija University, the University of Alcalá, and the Spain Tourism Board.
The opening ceremony was officiated by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and International, Professor Datin Dr. Noor Hazlina Ahmad, and graced by His Excellency Sergi Farré Salvá, Ambassador-Designate of Spain to Malaysia.
His Excellency expressed gratitude for the leadership and institutional support of USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed; SoLLaT Dean, Professor Dr. Hazri Jamil; and Chairperson, Ummu Salmah Rahamatullah, whose dedication was pivotal in ensuring the success of the congress.
Also present were the Education Counselor for Australia, New Zealand, India and Southeast Asia, Rosa María Prieto; Director of the Cervantes Institute in Manila, Francisco Javier López; and Academic Sub-director of the Cervantes Institute, Raquel Romero.
Beyond academic exchange, CELEAP 2026 fostered stronger networks among universities, educational institutions, publishers, and professionals committed to advancing Spanish language education in the region.
Hosting the congress reflects USM’s continued commitment to internationalisation, multilingualism, cross-cultural engagement, and global academic collaboration, while strengthening its ties with Spanish institutions and the wider Spanish language education community across the Asia-Pacific region.