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Summer School 2026 · International Collaborative · Instituto Cudeca
Centro Yusuf Hamied, Benalmádena, Málaga
International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person Fundación Cudeca
11–12 May 2026 · Benalmádena, Málaga, Spain

International Collaborative
Summer School 2026

for Best Care for the Dying Person — an annual gathering of the world's leading clinicians, researchers and educators in palliative and end-of-life care.

Yusuf Hamied Centre, Cudeca Institute
Mon 11 – Tue 12 May 2026
International delegates welcome
Free bus transport from hotels
Register now
"A world where all people experience a good death as an integral part of their individual life, supported by the very best personalised care."

What is Summer School 2026?

The International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person is an innovative global network of clinicians and researchers working together in pursuit of a shared vision — a world where every person experiences a good death, as part of their individual life, supported by the very best personalised care.

Each year, the Collaborative convenes its flagship Summer School at the Yusuf Hamied Centre, Cudeca Institute for Training and Research in Benalmádena, Málaga. The 2026 edition — taking place on 11th and 12th May — brings together delegates from across the world for two intensive days of learning, collaboration, and research development.

Summer School is the engine of the Collaborative's research portfolio. A space where working groups advance their projects, new partnerships are formed, and clinical practice is transformed through evidence-based approaches. In the 2024 edition alone, workshops gave rise to 15 new project groups within the Collaborative.

Clinicians

Working with patients in advanced illness or end-of-life settings

Researchers

Pursuing international projects in palliative care science

Educators & trainers

Responsible for palliative care education and training

Healthcare managers

Seeking to improve end-of-life quality indicators

Register for Summer School 2026

Complete the form below to secure your place

Contact & Information

For Summer School enquiries, please contact:
zuleramirez@cudeca.org

Location

Yusuf Hamied Centre
Cudeca Institute for Training and Research
Benalmádena, Málaga, Spain


What to expect at Summer School

The 10/40 Model

The Collaborative's innovative continuous quality improvement programme that transforms care for dying patients in clinical settings in a measurable and sustainable way. Foundation course and advanced implementation workshops included.

Research in End-of-Life Care

Participate in international research workshops on the iLIVE project, international benchmarking, the Serious Illness Conversation Programme, development of an international biobank, and the diagnosis of dying.

Quality Improvement in Clinical Care

Workshops on engaging bereaved relatives to improve quality of care, developing volunteer services in end-of-life settings, and addressing contemporary ethical issues in clinical practice.

Project Groups & Themed Sessions

Dedicated time for Project Groups to meet and advance their work, plus sessions on communication at end of life and fostering public engagement with death and dying.

Oral Abstracts & Poster Presentations

Share your research with an international audience. Prizes are awarded for Best Oral Abstract and Best Poster, recognising outstanding contributions to the field.

Welcome Conference Dinner

An informal evening gathering on Day 1 — the ideal opportunity to connect with international colleagues, form new partnerships, and share experiences in a relaxed setting.

Summer School 2026 Schedule

TimeFormatSession
09:00 – 09:15 Plenary Welcome to Summer School 2026 and to the Yusuf Hamied Centre
Dr Marisa Martín & Dr Yusuf Hamied
09:15 – 09:45 Plenary Overview of Summer School 2026 and The Collaborative Best Care for the Dying Person
Professor John Ellershaw
09:45 – 11:00 Workshop
10/40 Model – FoundationIntroduction to the 10/40 Model for Best Care for the Dying Person
Chair: Dr Susie Wilkinson
IC Project GroupsiLIVE Legacy
Chair: Prof Agnes van der Heide (Hybrid)
Public EngagementPublic Engagement in End-of-Life Care
Chair: Dr Marisa Martín
11:00 – 11:30 Break Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45 Workshop
10/40 Foundation (cont.)Chair: Dr Susie Wilkinson
Bereaved RelativesEngaging with Bereaved Relatives: listening to their voices to improve quality of care
Chair: Dr Vilma Tripodoro & Dr Catriona Mayland (Hybrid)
International BenchmarkingBenchmarking in Care for the Dying
Chair: Professor John Ellershaw
12:45 – 14:00 Break Lunch Break & Poster Viewing
14:00 – 14:45 Plenary Diagnosing Dying is Quality of Life: Do you want to know why?
Associate Professor Matteo Moroni · Afternoon Session chaired by Professor Carl Johan Fürst
14:45 – 16:00 Workshop
Education – EU COSTEducation in Care for the Dying: EU COST Action CODE-YAA@PC-EDU Project
Chair: Prof Piret Paal
Diagnosing DyingChair: Associate Professor Matteo Moroni
Serious Illness Care ProgrammeChair: Associate Professor Anna Sandgren & Dr Stephen Mason
16:00 – 16:30 Break Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:30 Plenary Oral Presentations from Submitted Abstracts
Professor Agnes Van der Heide and Caterina Simões RN
17:30 Close Close of Day 1
20:00 Dinner Welcome Conference Dinner
TimeFormatSession
09:00 – 09:15 Plenary Introduction to the Day
Dr Marisa Martín
09:15 – 10:00 Plenary Volunteering in Care for the Dying: Learning from the EU Horizon 2020 Ilive Project
Professor Agnes van der Heide
10:00 – 11:00 Plenary Oral Presentations from Submitted Abstracts
Dr Vilma Tripodoro and Dr Susie Wilkinson
11:00 – 11:30 Break Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45 Workshop
10/40 Training ProgrammeDeveloping a training programme for implementation leaders of the 10/40 Model
Chair: Dr Dröfn Birgisdottir & Anette Duarte RN
iLIVE VolunteersChair: Dr Tamsin McGlinchey & Grethe Skorpen Iversen RN
International BenchmarkingChair: Professor John Ellershaw
12:45 – 14:00 Break Lunch Break
14:00 – 14:45 Plenary Palliative Care Solutions to the Humanitarian Crisis of Cancer
Professor Naveen Salins · Afternoon Session chaired by Professor Piret Paal
14:45 – 16:00 Workshop
24-hour Research ProjectCare for the Dying
Chair: Professor Carl Johan Fürst
10/40 Staff Perception QuestionnaireChair: Dr Stephen Mason
Translational Palliative CareDeveloping an international biobank in palliative care
Chair: Professor Lia van Zuylen
16:00 – 16:30 Break Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:00 Plenary Reflections and Learning from Summer School
Professor John Ellershaw
17:00 – 17:30 Plenary Prizegiving & Conclusions
Professor John Ellershaw
17:30 Farewell Farewell

Pricing

Registration fees include access to all sessions, workshops, coffee breaks, and lunches on both days. The Welcome Conference Dinner on Day 1 is also included.

Delegate category Early Bird (to 31 March 2026) Standard fee (from 1 April 2026)
Full Members of the International Collaborative 190 € 240 €
Free Members & Non-Members of the Collaborative 240 € 290 €
Standard rates now apply (Early Bird closed 31 March 2026). Register now to secure your place — capacity is limited.

Accommodation

We have negotiated preferential rates at two hotels close to the Yusuf Hamied Centre. Free bus transport is provided from both hotels to the venue and back each day.

★★★★
Hotel Alay
Bed & Breakfast
From 110 € / night (DUI)
★★★
Hotel THB San Fermin
Bed & Breakfast
62 € (DUI)  /  75 € (DB) per night
Free bus transport is provided from both partner hotels to the Yusuf Hamied Centre and back on both days of the event.