At Banco Santander we have a firm commitment to progress and inclusive sustainable growth, with a long-standing commitment to higher education over the last 26 years, which sets us apart from the world's other financial institutions.
We understand our duty to support higher education as the driver of the progress needed to create a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable society. For over 26 years, we’ve been working through Santander Universities, a unique global programme that provides education and employment opportunities to university students and professionals through Santander Scholarships and to start-ups and SMEs through Santander X.
supporting education, employment and entrepreneurship
euros invested
professionals, start-ups and SMEs supported
institutions in 25 countries
supporting education, employment and entrepreneurship
euros invested
professionals, start-ups and SMEs supported
institutions in 25 countries
In 2022, we invested 100 billion euros and supported more than 266.000 of students, professionals, start-ups and SMEs.
Amid vast digital transformation, we continue to meet the needs of the jobs market and promote lifelong learning. In the spirit of #NeverStopLearning, we’ll continue to run training programmes to further one of Santander Universities' main objectives: employability.
Our Universia career guidance and training platform is open to students, universities and companies. And Fundación Universia promotes social and workplace inclusion for university students with disabilities.
“A more sustainable economy requires a holistic approach to education where employability must be a priority both for universities and companies. It is essential to foster the appropriate skills from university and throughout working life with a dynamic approach”.
“Education is the bedrock of a more innovative and competitive society and the fundamental driver of progress and a more sustainable economy. At Santander Universities, we're certain our future must continue to evolve to encourage lifelong learning as a crux for greater employability”.
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Santander Scholarships
We make a huge effort to enhance our Santander Scholarships. They promote digital and other skills in high demand, plus access to universities, academic excellence and equal opportunity. We meet the needs of the jobs market, boost employability and promote lifelong learning.
In 2021, we helped some 139,000 students, professionals, start-ups and SMEs. More than 40,600 people benefited from study, research and academic mobility grants; and almost 98,500 from internships and upskilling and re-skilling programmes to boost employability.
We´ve expanded our Santander Scholarships´ offer, including programs open to all profiles and ages. They have no cost to the beneficiaries and do not require a university degree or be a bank customer.
Santander X
Santander X, the bank's global entrepreneur network, works to develop innovative start-ups, scaleups and help them get the resources they need to grow.
In 2021, we helped over 23,100 entrepreneurs through training programmes, global challenges and awards.
We set three global challenges, ran two Explorer programmes and launched Santander X 100, a global community of Santander X's most innovative and emerging start-ups and scale-ups.
Our three global challenges promoted the most promising, globally-scalable solutions and innovation through training and visibility.
And we´ve Explorer programme, which aims to promote youth entrepreneurship and help to turn ideas into projects and solutions in 8 countries. More than 8,000 entrepreneurial projects have taken part in Explorer since its launch 11 years ago.
Santander X Environmental Challenge
We work to meet society’s demands and take action to fulfil our purpose of helping people and businesses prosper. That’s why we teamed up with Oxentia Foundation to create Santander X Environmental Challenge, a global initiative to support eco-friendly entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to build a more sustainable future.
Santander X Global Challenge | Helping Businesses Prosper
SMEs are a key driver of economic growth, employment and social cohesion. That's why Santander's purpose is to help them prosper.
In these testing times for SMEs, we joined forces with Oxentia Foundation to launch Santander X Global Challenge I Helping Businesses Prosper, a new global initiative for start-ups and scale-ups with innovative, scalable solutions that will help SMEs make the digital transition and be more efficient.
Santander X Global Challenge | Finance For All
Santander helps people and businesses prosper. One of its objectives is to make sure everyone can access banking products and services.
Financial inclusion is crucial to reducing inequality and creating opportunity. We must think of how not to leave anyone behind.
Alongside Oxentia Foundation, we launched Santander X Global Challenge I Finance for All, a new global initiative for start-ups and scale-ups with innovative, scalable solutions that will adapt to demographic changes and generate a lasting social and economic impact for millions of people worldwide.