The Honorable Dr. Santos Gracia Villar, president of the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER), has been elected a Numerary Member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (RAED) during a solemn ceremony held at the Foment del Treball headquarters in Barcelona. His appointment to this academic institution is a recognition of a career dedicated to making higher education a tool for the development of peoples, international cooperation, and the coordination of multinational communities—a vision that has been brought to life for nearly three decades through FUNIBER’s institutional mission.
The event was presided over by His Excellency Dr. Alfredo Rocafort Nicolau, president of the RAED, Doctor of Economics and Doctor of Law. The ceremony began with members of the academic body signing the Academy’s Book of Honor and brought together prominent figures from the academic, scientific, and institutional spheres.
Upon his induction as a Numerary Member, Dr. Santos Gracia delivered a speech titled “University Education as a Tool for the Development of Peoples and the Integration of Multinational Communities. “The FUNIBER Project”, in which he outlined the vision that has guided the Foundation’s development since its inception and reflected on the role of the university as a driving force for social progress, international cooperation, and understanding among peoples.
Watch the full video of Dr. Santos Gracia Villar’s introduction:
The University as a Driving Force for Social Development
The president of FUNIBER began his remarks by noting that, ever since the founding of the first universities, higher education has been an essential tool for preparing individuals and strengthening societies. In this context, he emphasized that access to quality higher education is now a shared aspiration of millions of people who seek to advance their professional, academic, and personal development, while also contributing to the well-being of the communities to which they belong.
Dr. Santos Gracia noted that the advent of the Internet in the late 20th century profoundly transformed the educational landscape and opened up new opportunities to expand access to higher education. It was precisely in this context that FUNIBER was founded, harnessing the potential of new technologies to combine the strengths of in-person learning with the advantages of distance education.
From its inception, he added, the project had two key objectives: to facilitate access to higher education regardless of students’ financial means or place of residence, and to promote an education of excellence that would contribute to the development of individuals and societies.
A University Model Based on Cooperation
The speech provided an overview of FUNIBER’s evolution from its creation in 1997 to its establishment as one of the leading international networks for university cooperation in the Iberophone world.
Over the course of nearly three decades, this model has made it possible to establish an International University Network with a presence in more than 35 countries, comprising universities, research centers, and partner institutions that jointly develop academic, scientific, and cultural projects. At the same time, FUNIBER’s International Scholarship Program has facilitated access to higher education for thousands of students, eliminating economic and geographic barriers and reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to equal opportunities and the development of human capital.
The University as a Tool for Coordinating the Iberophone Space
One of the central themes of the speech was the cultural and strategic dimension of higher education. Dr. Santos Gracia explained that, from its creation, the FUNIBER project was committed to leveraging the linguistic and cultural affinities between Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking peoples to develop shared academic programs.
In this context, he highlighted the importance of the Pan-Iberian Space, or the Iberophone Community, which comprises the community of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries and peoples and brings together 900 million people spread across some thirty nations. This geolinguistic area is one of the largest language communities in the world and offers a unique opportunity to promote university cooperation, foster the exchange of knowledge, and develop joint projects in education, research, and innovation.
From this perspective, he noted that the university can play a decisive role as a catalyst for this multinational space, promoting stable networks of academic collaboration and contributing to shared development through professional training, scientific research, and knowledge transfer. In this way, he stated, FUNIBER has helped consolidate a form of university cooperation that transcends national borders and strengthens ties between institutions united by a common linguistic and cultural heritage.
Full speech delivered by Dr. Santos Gracia Villar.
Response Speech by the Royal European Academy of Doctors
The response speech was delivered by the president of the RAED, Dr. Alfredo Rocafort Nicolau, who welcomed the new academician, highlighting the scope of his career and the significance of the project developed by FUNIBER.
During his remarks, he described Dr. Santos Gracia as a true “university builder,” capable of transforming a vision into solid and enduring institutions. He also emphasized that FUNIBER’s growth demonstrates how higher education can become a true foundation for the development of communities by fostering the training of professionals, teachers, and researchers, strengthening academic institutions, and creating opportunities for economic and social progress through knowledge.
The president of the RAED also highlighted the Foundation’s social impact, as reflected in its International Scholarship Program, in the education of thousands of students, and in its contribution to strengthening universities and educational institutions. Similarly, he acknowledged FUNIBER’s contribution to the development of the Pan-Iberian and Iberophone Space, as well as to the promotion of academic and cultural diplomacy as a tool for fostering understanding, cooperation, and dialogue among societies on different continents.
He also highlighted the Foundation’s work in the areas of science outreach, cultural promotion, and the organization of international academic activities, which serve as tools for bringing knowledge to society and strengthening ties between universities and institutions.
Full speech by RAED President Dr. Alfredo Rocafort.
As the Royal European Academy of Doctors itself has noted, “Being an academician is both an honor and an affirmation of intellectual nobility.” In this regard, the induction of Dr. Santos Gracia Villar into the RAED represents recognition of a life dedicated to university learning and knowledge but also of the legacy he has built through FUNIBER, a project that has placed higher education, university cooperation, and a commitment to human development at the heart of its institutional mission.
The ceremony, marked by great solemnity, was attended by officials, numerous academics, family, friends, and members of the Iberoamerican University Foundation, and concluded with a networking reception.
Complete book documenting Dr. Santos Gracia Villar’s induction into the RAED.