Santander expands its scholarship and aid program to reach 40.000 people and companies in Spain in 2025

General Meeting of Shareholders of Universia España

The entity transforms its support program for universities towards a more digital, international and global model that will have greater reach.

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Banco Santander has announced an important transformation of its support program for Spanish universities, with the aim of reaching more people and companies and contributing more effectively to the development of the country. The initiative, which is framed within the entity's commitment to education, employability and entrepreneurship, will be developed through three strategic axes: scholarships and aid, training in digital skills and support for entrepreneurship.

 

The president of Banco Santander and Universia, Ana Botin, has chaired the General Meeting of Shareholders of Universia España, where he presented the outline of the new program. In his speech, Botín highlighted the importance of education and training in the current context, marked by rapid technological transformation and the challenges of the labor market.

 

"Education alone is not enough if it doesn't translate into employment," Botín stated. "Universities and businesses must work together to close the gap between labor supply and demand, and for universities to become key players in lifelong learning and employment."

 

 

Through the Santander Open Academy, Santander X and Campus Digital platforms, Santander universalizes scholarship and aid programs, in collaboration with universities

 

In this sense, Santander's new program is based on three fundamental pillars:

• Scholarships and grants: Santander will expand its offer of scholarships and aid to reach 40.000 people and companies in Spain in 2025. Among the new initiatives, the nearly 5.000 complementary aid for professional internships and the Santander Scholarships | Microcredentials, in support of the Ministry of Universities program.
• Training in digital skills: Santander Open Academy, the entity's digital training platform, will offer free courses on competencies and skills highly in demand by the labor market to 60.000 people in Spain.
• Entrepreneurship support: Santander will support 1.500 companies and entrepreneurial projects next year with training, advice and resources to grow.

 

A social impact multiplied by four

 

Santander's support for education, employability and entrepreneurship in Spain has quadrupled since Ana Botín became president in 2014. In this period, the entity has allocated more than 2.300 billion euros and has supported more than 1,5 .XNUMX million people and companies.

 

“Santander has a firm commitment to the progress and inclusive and sustainable growth of Spain,” Botín stated. “This new initiative is another step in our objective to contribute to the country’s development through…” education, employability and entrepreneurship«.

 

A call to action

 

Ana Botín concluded her remarks by reiterating her call to allocate at least 1% of GDP to university funding in Spain. "This is a minimum aspiration that we must achieve before 2030," she stated.