This morning, the University of Oviedo's rector, Santiago García Granda, officially opened El Brañillín University Lodge, located in the Valgrande-Pajares Winter and Mountain Resort. Closed for eight years, the facility is now open again following renovation work that has included an upgrade to the plumbing as well as carpentry, painting and terrace waterproofing improvements. Part of the furniture and the supply of machinery required to provide the service have also been upgraded. The facility is managed by Iberostelería y Ocio, which has been appointed to run it for three years.

The rector visited the facility along with the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Elisa Miguélez González; the Area Manager for Student University Residences, Ignacio del Río Calvo; the Vice-Rector for Material and Technological Resources, Marta Hernando Álvarez; the Delegate for Coordination and University Strategy, Xabiel García Pañeda; the Vice-Rector for Research, José Ramón Obeso, and the Chief Operating Officer, Ana Caro Muñoz. The reopening ceremony was also attended by Asturias's General Director of Sports, Beatriz Álvarez Mesa; the Mayor of Lena, Gemma Álvarez Delgado and the Director of the Valgrande-Pajares Winter Resort, Francisco Javier Martínez Iglesias, and other members of the university's governing team.

El Brañillín, which is located at the foot of the slopes, has 80 accommodation places, a restaurant and cafeteria. These are for priority use by members of the university community but will also be open to the general public. It was originally a livestock area which, after it had been disentailed, was owned by the residents of the Lena Valley. Its history goes back to the November 1969 opening of the first phase of the Pajares Ski Resort facilities.

Restoring this 1970s facility has been one of the goals of the university's current management team. The facility will be operational during the ski season and will be available year-round for organising university, cultural, sports and scientific events. University Extension activities will be able to be held there, in its unique setting, and in collaboration with Lena town council – the municipality where the lodge is located.

The proximity of the facility to the province of León opens the door to the organisation of joint activities between the two sister universities that have a shared origin and already collaborate in projects such as the University of Oviedo's Aula Confucio.