Ana Botin presents the Universia Rio 2014 Charter at the 24th Ibero-American Conference of Heads of State

- 1,000 Vice-Chancellors attending the Rio Summit propose actions to improve, modernize and internationalize higher education.

- Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Spain's King Felipe VI and Ibero-American Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan receive the document.

- Ana Botin reaffirms Banco Santander's commitment to higher education with a contribution of $945 million over the next four years.

News provided by

The Santander Group

Dec 09, 2014, 05:24 ET

VERACRUZ, Mexico, Dec. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Santander and Universia Executive Chairman Ana Botin and a delegation of Ibero-American vice-chancellors presented the Universia Rio 2014 Charter to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Spain's King Felipe VI and Ibero-American Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan at the Ibero-American Conference of Heads of State held in Veracruz, Mexico.

According to Ana Botin, the Universia Rio 2014 Charter is "an expression of the aspiration and desire of the University of becoming a driving force behind the region's economic and social development." The Charter contains the findings of the 3rd Universia International Vice-Chancellors' Meeting, which took place in Rio de Janeiro last July (www.universiario2014.com), with 1,090 vice-chancellors from 36 countries in attendance.

In the document, the vice-chancellors identify 10 underlying trends that are transforming the university institution, and propose 11 actions to promote its internationalization, digitalization, university-business collaboration, innovation and social responsibility.

Ana Botin pointed out that Santander "has committed $945 million to university projects over the next four years—40% of the funds will go to grants to enable students' and teachers' international mobility, 30% to promote research, innovation and universities' enterprising culture, and the remaining 30% to support academic projects and initiatives that seek to modernize universities through the incorporation of new technologies." She also stated it is essential that governments, businesses and universities pledge to work together.

In his speech, Spain's King Felipe VI said: "I would like to congratulate the Santander Group and Universia for the important initiative taken by their chairman, which is a decisive contribution to the creation and development of a socially responsible Ibero-American Knowledge Area."

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto pointed out that: "In this context, I would again like to acknowledge Group Santander Executive Chairman Ana Botin's initiative in providing a broad, generous scholarship program for Ibero-American youth in the amount of $945 million over the next four years. This support adds to the work and social commitment that honored your distinguished father, Don Emilio Botin, whom I had the great honor of knowing." He went on to say: "we are grateful for the Bank's generous solidarity with the youth of the entire region."

Work is currently being done by different governments, businesses and universities to develop joint programs with SEGIB to implement the conclusions and measures included in the Rio Charter.

Vice-chancellors attending the event include Alberto Edgardo Barbieri, from the University of Buenos Aires; Carlos Antonio Levi, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Antonio Bensabat Rendas, from the Nova University of Lisbon; Ignacio Sanchez, from the Pontificia Catolica of Chile; Marco Antonio Zago, from the University of Sao Paulo; Sara Ladron de Guevara, from the Veracruzana University, and Manuel Lopez, from the University of Zaragoza, who currently chairs the Conference of Spanish University Vice-Chancellors (CRUE).