PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT: AN EXPLORATORY APPROACHIN THE REGION OF VALENCIA (SPAIN)

Abstract

This paper addresses the exercising of local development in Spain, particularly in the Region of Valencia. At the end of 1980, a professional position was created to form part of the public administrations, who would be responsible for attracting economic resources, diversifying economic activities, taking advantage of the capacities and possibilities of the territories, and encouraging the creation of employment opportunities. These activities have been conducted from a holistic and integrated perspective, in which professional geographers participate from both an applied and training point of view. The objectives of this publication, based on a survey carried out in 2019 involving114 professionals belonging to the Federation of Technical Personnel in Local Development Management of the Region of Valencia (ADLYPSE) and in-depth interviews, are to explore: a) the academic profiles; b) the type of actions carried out in the territory; and c) the importance of these actions, highlighting the close relationship between Geography and the management of territorial resources. Among the results, it is worth highlighting that, despite the importance of these experts in the promotion and management of the territory's resources, they have no professional recognition in many of the region’s municipalities since they have been limited to managing subsidies and financial aid, and have an excess of bureaucratic tasks. Therefore, the professional profiles of technical staff in local development should be adapted to the real needs of the territories in which they work, since an industrial or tourist municipality will have different priorities to a rural municipality with a small population. The importance of training, in general, and geography training, in particularly, is also underlined. Of the five university master's degrees that are currently active in Spain, having a clear link to local development, three are led by geographers.