UGR International Strategy

UGR Internationalization Strategy (2026-2031)

 

Introduction

As envisaged in the UGR 2031 Strategic Plan, the University of Granada (UGR) endeavours to be an international university that is open to the world and committed to serving the citizens of a multicultural and global society. Internationalization is a prerequisite for the UGR's future success in the generation, dissemination and transfer of knowledge, and is therefore one of the strategic pillars underpinning the governance of our institution. Many changes have taken place since we approved our original International Strategy in 2017, hence the need for an updated roadmap adapted to the current trends and developments in the European and international higher education context.

The rationale behind this new strategy is based on the following key considerations:

  • Adapting to a changing global environment. Internationalization in higher education is not a static concept. Geopolitical dynamics, technological advances, new forms of academic collaboration, and global challenges such as climate change and inequalities entail that we must constantly review and adapt our priorities and procedures related to international activities.
  • Consolidating the UGR's status as an institution of excellence. Internationalization is a key element in achieving and maintaining academic quality and excellence. The Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization's mission is to connect the UGR with the higher education systems of other countries in order to offer our students and staff opportunities for growth and improvement. We strive for constant progress in the quality of the formal and informal academic programmes we offer, thereby ensuring that we continue to recruit international talent and serve as a leader within the international higher education community.
  • Boosting the UGR's global impact. This policy document seeks to promote the establishment and consolidation of strategic and enduring multilateral alliances for the global dissemination of our teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities. This will enhance the UGR's global reach, while promoting cultural enrichment and scientific and academic progress.
  • Fostering the strategic implementation of the Arqus Alliance. We believe that our firm commitment to the Arqus Alliance is crucial to paving the way for a new dimension in European higher education. In this regard, the Strategy seeks to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Alliance to boost our activities and participate in European forums.
  • Promoting cross-cutting integration of internationalization. The Strategy acknowledges that internationalization must permeate all sectors of the University community. It seeks to integrate the international perspective into students' formal and informal learning, as well as into teaching, research, knowledge transfer and the day-to-day activities of our technical, management, administrative and support staff (PTGAS).
  • Responding to new priorities in international mobility. International mobility programmes are evolving towards more flexible, sustainable and inclusive models, paying greater attention to groups with fewer opportunities. This new strategy seeks to ensure that the University retains its leading role in both incoming and outgoing mobility, and to incentivise innovative forms of mobility such as short-term mobility and blended intensive programmes.
  • Strengthening the UGR Language Policy. In a globalised world, language proficiency and the promotion of interculturality are fundamental. The UGR Language Policy seeks to improve the language skills of the entire University community, emphasising the value of the Spanish language and promoting multilingualism.

In short, the UGR Internationalization Strategy 2026-2031 is a much-needed and carefully planned response to the challenges and opportunities of today's global environment. This new document follows on from the 2017 International Strategy and also encompasses our language policy. It has been developed through a process of collective reflection and seeks to consolidate the UGR's status as an internationally relevant, high-quality institution that is committed to its values and well-prepared for the future. The implementation of this Strategy will enable us to continue advancing in our mission and vision as a global and socially engaged university.

 

Click here to view the full document (in Spanish): UGR Internationalization Strategy

 

Objectives

  • Establish and consolidate strategic and sustainable multilateral alliances, as a key element in the global dissemination and promotion of our teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities.
  • Boost the involvement of the entire university community (students, PDI and PTGAS staff) in the activities of the Arqus Alliance.
  • Promote joint academic programmes between alliance partners.
  • Boost the research dimension within the Alliance.
  • Promote internationalization in students' formal and informal learning in order to enhance their employability.
  • Foster the international dimension in UGR teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, and services.
  • Boost talent recruitment in all areas and sectors of the university community.
  • Retain our leading role in incoming and outgoing student mobility in order to further enrich the international character of our campuses, as well as the academic and personal lives of our students.
  • Improve the training and teaching methodologies of our academic and research staff (PDI) through their participation in international mobility programmes and international teacher training projects.
  • Improve the mobilities of our technical, management, administrative and support staff (PTGAS) with a view to enhancing and optimising the functioning of our institution.
  • Make progress in implementing innovative mobility programmes that are adapted to the personal and academic circumstances of students, PDI staff and PTGAS staff alike. These new programmes are designed to provide enriching alternatives to traditional forms of mobility, strengthening the academic and personal experiences of those who participate in them.
  • Promote the internationalization of formal and informal programmes.
  • Consolidate our programmes through the promotion of the international dimension in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
  • Promote Spanish as an international academic and scientific language.
  • Enhance and accredit the language skills of the entire UGR community through foreign language training and certifications.
  • Consolidate the UGR's role as a leader in language policy within the international higher education sphere.
  • Boost the international visibility of the UGR.

 

Strategic priorities included in the UGR Internationalization Strategy (2026-2031)

Our new Internationalization Strategy is based on six strategic priorities:

Strategic priority 1. International academic cooperation.

Strategic priority 2. The Arqus Alliance as a driver of transformation in European higher education.

Strategic priority 3. Cross-cutting and comprehensive internationalization at the UGR.

Strategic priority 4. International mobility.

Strategic priority 5. Internationalization of studies.

Strategic priority 6. Language policy.

Each of these strategic priorities is linked to the pillars and action areas of the UGR 2031 Strategic Plan, as well as to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UGR Internationalization FundPPI 2026

The UGRs 2026 Internationalisation Fund brings together the financial instruments designed to support the new ‘Internationalisation Strategy 2026–2031’ and the initiatives under Axis VII of the ‘Master Plan 2026’, with the aim of moving towards cross-cutting, sustainable internationalisation that is integrated into all aspects of university life.

In line with the previous seventeen editions and in accordance with the ‘UGR Budget 2026’, this eighteenth edition is funded from the University’s own resources, which are allocated to initiatives with a direct impact on the institutional internationalisation strategy. These funds will be used to promote initiatives that complement and supplement those covered by national and European programmes, as well as to strengthen the implementation of projects that receive external support.

The ‘2026 University Internationalisation Plan’ is structured around seven programmes, aimed at sustainably promoting and strengthening the international dimension of study, teaching, research and university management. It also encourages the University of Granada’s participation in initiatives that contribute to its global profile, both through international mobility schemes and by developing internationalisation at home.

Spanish as an International Academic and Scientific Language: Towards a Strategy at the UGR

In its session of 30 January 2025, the Governing Council of the University of Granada (UGR) approved a key strategic document aimed at promoting Spanish as an international academic and scientific language. Developed by the Directorate for Language Services and Resources (Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization), the plan sets out a series of objectives and actions for the period 2025-2031.

The document responds to the need to counteract the limited use of the Spanish language in the production and transfer of specialised knowledge, despite the large number of speakers around the world and the growing demand for certifications. The dominance of English in scientific communication has led to a limited output of scientific publications and text corpora, as well as a lack of neologisms for disseminating scientific knowledge in Spanish. In turn, this has resulted in the limited development of both language technologies (LT) and AI models in Spanish, with implications for scientific pluralism and universal access to knowledge.

In the words of Vice-Rector for Internationalization Inmaculada Marrero, this Strategy demonstrates the UGR’s role as a standard-bearing institution in academic internationalization, as well as its commitment to promoting Spanish as a valid language for disseminating scientific and technological knowledge. The Strategy is also aligned with the UGR's vision for the future, drawing on some of the pillars and action areas of the UGR 2031 Strategic Plan, including internationalization, inclusion, digital transformation and social responsibility.

Proposed actions

To achieve these objectives, the Strategy sets out a number of specific actions, including:

  • Creating a Committee for the Promotion of Academic Spanish at the UGR, which will be responsible for setting priorities and coordinating actions.
  • Establishing cooperation with institutions such as the Cervantes Institute and the Directorate-General for Spanish in the World (DGEM) in order to coordinate strategies.
  • Encouraging the publication of scientific content in Spanish in university media and digital platforms.
  • Creating a standardised corpus of scientific Spanish in coordination with Spanish-speaking countries.
  • Boosting the presence of the Modern Languages Centre (CLM) in key markets for Spanish as a second language.

Next steps

Over the coming months, the University of Granada will implement a series of initial actions and will seek to collaborate with local, regional, national and international organisations. This preliminary document will serve to kickstart a debate that will help to position Spanish as a language of science and technology on the international stage.

 

Contact details:

Silvia Montero Martínez

Directorate for Language Services and Resources. Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization. University of Granada.

Email: smontero@ugr.es