The UAB and Banco Santander award 80 Ítaca grants

The Ítaca-Banco Santader grants are awarded to brilliant students whose social and economic background make it difficult for them to continue with their studies and enrol in university. On 25 February, the auditorium played host to a ceremony for students receiving the grants from the past four academic years.

19/02/2019

On 25 February, a total of eighty Ítaca-Banco Santander grants were awarded through the Global Santander Universities Division to high performing students with difficulties in accessing university and continuing their studies due to harsh social and economic backgrounds. The ceremony took place at the auditorium of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Presiding the event which began at 6 p.m. were UAB Rector Margarita Arboix; Matías Rodríguez, President of Santander Universities and Vice President of Universia; and Gabriel Masfurroll, President of the UAB Social Council.

The event served to award the grant certificates from the 2018/19 and three previous academic years. Each year, twenty grants are awarded, which include a monthly salary of 500 euros during 10 months per year, and renewable for the duration of their undergraduate studies. The grant also covers registrations fees, other campus services and, if necessary, accommodation at the Vila Universitària. This initiative began in the year 2010 and was the first of its kind to be offered in a Spanish university.

Students mainly come from cities in the vicinity of the UAB and enrol in all areas of knowledge. Three of the grantees spoke at the event: Joel Seba, first-year student of the Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education; Giulia Abbate, fourth-year student of the Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Communication; and Maria Rodríguez, 2017/18 graduate of the Bachelor's Degree in Translation and Interpreting.

Secondary School Students

In addition to the grants programme, the collaboration between the UAB and the Global Santander Universities Division has led to some 400 students spending a two-week stay at the UAB Campus Ítaca each summer. This initiative aims to motivate adolescents in difficult economic situations and with high academic performance to continue with their studies once they complete their compulsory education. The students spend a few days at the Bellaterra campus, participating in fun and educational activities which allow them to discover different academic disciplines and become familiar with the university: research projects, treasure hunts, debates, etc. This initiative is organised by the Fundació Autònoma Solidaria and funded by Banco Santander.