Through its ‘Santander Universities’ Global Division Banco Santander has channelled since 1996 almost half a billion euros into academia through co-operative agreements with 650 universities in Spain, Latin America, Portugal, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom, where Bristol becomes the 21st British university to join the ever-expanding network.
Under the partnership, initially for a period of three years, five International Excellence Scholarships will be awarded to postgraduate students from the 11 Iberoamerican countries in ‘Santander Universities’ network who wish to study at the University of Bristol. The network includes universities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
University of Bristol students will benefit from International Travel Awards designed to encourage exchange mobility between Bristol and the Iberoamerican countries. These awards will enable many students to participate in schemes, which would otherwise have been beyond their reach, with active support from academic staff to ensure the success of the partnerships. Banco Santander is uniquely positioned to assist universities across their network, enabling academic mobility and cultural exchange.
‘Santander Universities’ is also offering scholarships for Excellence and Achievement in Business Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, as well as research funding in the Business area. The University of Bristol’s Research and Enterprise Development unit welcome these awards as an opportunity to extend further support to business initiatives in the University of Bristol.
Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: “This agreement will strengthen Bristol’s international links, create new opportunities for students and staff and bring tangible academic and cultural benefits to all the parties involved. I am very pleased that Bristol is now part of this distinguished network.”
António Horta-Osório, Abbey’s CEO, welcomed the University of Bristol into the ever-growing UK membership of the ‘Santander Universities’ network. He said: “We share the conviction that education, international cooperation and the transfer of knowledge are of vital importance in a global society. I am sure that the agreement we are signing today is the start of a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”