The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), an institution that is part of the International University Network of the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER), has kicked off the 2026-2027 academic year with a review of the main achievements of the past year and the presentation of its priorities in the areas of education, research, and internationalization. This last area is particularly important for FUNIBER’s Academic Network, which promotes cooperation among universities in different countries and provides opportunities to broaden its students’ academic experience.
A University with an International Focus
During the presentation of the academic report for the 2025–2026 academic year, UNEATLANTICO’s Secretary General, Jesús Peña, highlighted the institution’s progress across its various areas of activity. One of the most significant statistics was the international character of its university community: 50.5% of students enrolled in official degree programs came from other countries, representing more than 40 nationalities, making it the second most internationalized university in Spain.
This diversity reflects UNEATLANTICO’s ability to bring together students from different cultural backgrounds and foster a learning environment open to the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Living together in a multicultural community broadens perspectives, develops intercultural skills, and prepares students to thrive in an increasingly globalized professional environment.
Within this framework, collaboration among the universities in the FUNIBER Network offers students opportunities to complement their education in different academic settings. Students at the Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (UNIC) in Angola and at the Universidad de La Romana (University of La Romana, UNIROMANA) in the Dominican Republic can access the dual-degree options offered by their respective programs, with the possibility of spending an academic term at UNEATLANTICO in Santander, Spain.
Likewise, the partnership between UNEATLANTICO and the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana de México (International Ibero-American University of Mexico, UNINI México) aims to expand the dual-degree options for certain on-campus bachelor’s degree programs starting next year. This collaboration will open up new opportunities for international education, in accordance with the conditions and requirements established for each program.
In this same vein of internationalization, the recent inauguration of the Atlantic Institute of Digital Culture at the Shandong University of Political Science and Youth in Jinan, China, is particularly noteworthy. This joint campus, promoted by UNEATLANTICO, expands the FUNIBER University Network’s opportunities for academic cooperation toward Asia, complementing the ties the Foundation maintains across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The initiative includes the development of joint training activities, research, and academic exchange, thereby strengthening the network’s international reach.
These initiatives reflect the value of FUNIBER’s International University Network as a space for academic cooperation among institutions on different continents, aimed at facilitating educational pathways that connect diverse educational and cultural contexts.
Research and Academic Excellence
The start of the academic year also provided an opportunity to highlight UNEATLANTICO’s achievements in research.
During the 2025–2026 period, the University recorded 202 scientific publications and secured eight national and international projects, with funding totaling nearly 1.5 million euros. Among the notable initiatives is the European project MAHINE, focused on strengthening training and international cooperation in the fields of nutrition, agronomy, and health.
The ceremony also included the presentation of the UNEATLANTICO Medal of Honor to Nestlé La Penilla, an award recognizing the factory’s history, its ties to Cantabria, and its contribution to the agri-food sector, as well as its ongoing collaboration with the University.
Dr. Rubén Calderón, the university’s rector, presenting the UNEATLANTICO Medal of Honor to Silvia Carballo, Director of Human Resources at Nestlé La Penilla.
Another highlight was the recognition of the top academic achievers for the 2025–2026 academic year. Students from the faculties of Health Sciences and Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as from the Higher Polytechnic School, received awards for their academic achievements. Through these recognitions, UNEATLANTICO highlighted the students’ effort, perseverance, and dedication, emphasizing the importance of personal commitment in achieving academic excellence.
For his part, Dr. Miguel López Coronado, professor and director of UNEATLANTICO’s Doctoral School, delivered the inaugural lecture, titled “Data: The Driving Force of Today’s Society,” in which he addressed the relevance of data for digital transformation and the generation of knowledge.
Presentation of awards to outstanding students from the Faculties of Health Sciences and Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as from the Higher Polytechnic School, for the 2025–2026 academic year.
The University Network Connecting Continents
UNEATLANTICO’s activities and the evolution of its international relations highlight the value of cooperation among the institutions that make up FUNIBER’s International University Network. Through this collaboration, the Foundation helps facilitate access to higher education programs and promotes initiatives that expand academic opportunities in different geographic contexts.
Dual-degree programs and international study options allow students to complement their studies and experience other university environments. At the same time, joint campuses and scientific cooperation projects foster the creation of ties between institutions, faculty, and researchers from different regions of the world.
With the start of the 2026–2027 academic year, UNEATLANTICO reaffirms its focus on education, research, and internationalization. For FUNIBER, these developments reflect the evolution of an International University Network that is strengthening its ties between the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia with the goal of fostering new opportunities for learning, cultural exchange, and academic development.
Inauguration of the 2026–2027 academic year at the European University of the Atlantic.
