The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) has held a bilateral meeting with rectors from Peruvian universities with the aim of “deepening relations in a changing world”.
The meeting took place on 9–10 March on the campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) and served to strengthen ties between both university systems, promote academic and staff mobility, foster research and innovation, and consolidate strategic cooperation in response to global challenges.
During the opening session, CRUE president and rector of Universitat Jaume I, Eva Alcón, emphasised that “we are living through times of profound transformation” and that “universities must be bridges for dialogue and drivers of international collaboration”. The session also included contributions from the rector of PUCP, Julio del Valle, and the Ambassador of Spain to Peru, Alejandro Abellán.
Alcón highlighted the strategic importance of reinforcing bilateral relations. “In a changing world, strengthening ties is not optional: it is a strategic responsibility,” she said, noting that “Peru is a priority partner within the Ibero-American space”, with which Spain shares language, culture, and a shared understanding of the university as a generator of knowledge, innovation, and social cohesion.
The CRUE president also underscored academic mobility as a tangible expression of cooperation. “Strengthening links means advancing the recognition of qualifications, reinforcing joint research and consolidating stable frameworks for institutional collaboration,” she added.
Alcón also referred to the agreement signed in 2025 between CRUE and the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) to strengthen higher education across Ibero-America:
During the meeting, rectors analysed inter-university relations between Peru and Spain, the recognition of qualifications, academic mobility programmes and scientific cooperation, including the promotion of open science and science in Spanish.
They also explored the impact of the global sociopolitical context on higher education, the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the role of universities in promoting the wellbeing of their communities.
The discussions addressed the challenges of student employability and facilitated the exchange of strategies and good practice to improve graduate employment outcomes. The meeting concluded with the reading of an institutional declaration by Francisco Oliva, rector of Pablo de Olavide University, and Enrique Castañeda, rector of Cayetano Heredia University. Closing remarks were delivered by Ricardo Mairal, president of CRUE–Internationalisation and Cooperation and rector of the National Distance Education University (UNED), and Julio del Valle Ballón, rector of PUCP.
The Spanish delegation, led by CRUE president Eva Alcón, included:
Ricardo Mairal, rector of UNED; Francisco Oliva, rector of Pablo de Olavide University; Joan Guàrdia, rector of the University of Barcelona; Carmen Vargas, rector of the University of Seville; Julián Garde, rector of the University of Castilla-La Mancha; José Capilla, rector of the Universitat Politècnica de València; Nuria González, rector of the University of León; Juan José Ruiz, rector of Miguel Hernández University of Elche; Àngels Fitó, rector of Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; Óscar García, rector of the Polytechnic University of Madrid; Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alacant; Alfonso Méndiz, rector of Universitat Internacional de Catalunya; Antonio Largo, rector of the University of Valladolid; Pedro María Fernández, rector of the University of Extremadura; and José Joaquín Céspedes, rector of the University of Almería.
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