Lima, 10 March 2026. The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) held a bilateral meeting with rectors from Peruvian universities with the aim of “strengthening relations in a changing world.” The meeting took place on 9 and 10 March at the campus of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and served to reinforce 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, highlighted that “we are living in times of profound transformation” and that “universities must act as bridges for dialogue and drivers of international cooperation.” The opening also featured remarks from PUCP Rector Julio del Valle and the Spanish Ambassador to Peru, Alejandro Abellán.
Alcón stressed the strategic importance of strengthening relations. “In a changing world, strengthening ties is not optional: it is a strategic responsibility,” she stated, recalling that “Peru is a priority partner within the Ibero-American space,” with which Spain shares language, culture and a common vision of the university as a generator of knowledge, innovation and social cohesion.
The CRUE President also highlighted academic mobility as a tangible expression of cooperation. “Strengthening ties means making progress in the recognition of degrees, reinforcing joint research and consolidating stable frameworks for institutional collaboration,” she noted. She also highlighted the agreement signed in 2025 between CRUE and the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) to strengthen higher education across Ibero-America.
A Strategic Dialogue on the Challenges of Higher Education
During the meeting, rectors analysed inter-university relations between Peru and Spain, the recognition of academic qualifications, academic mobility programmes and scientific cooperation, including the promotion of open science and science in Spanish.
Participants also discussed the impact of the global socio-political context on higher education, the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and the role of universities in promoting the wellbeing of their communities.
The meeting also focused on the challenges of student employability and on the exchange of strategies and good practices to strengthen graduates’ access to the labour market. The day concluded with the reading of the institutional declaration by Eva Alcón, President of CRUE and Rector of the Universitat Jaume I, and Enrique Castañeda, Rector of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. The conclusions and closing session featured remarks by Ricardo Mairal, President of Crue–Internationalisation and Cooperation and Rector of the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED); Enrique Castañeda, Rector of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; the President of CRUE; and Julio del Valle Ballón, Rector of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
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 Universitat de 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 the Miguel Hernández University of Elche; Ángels Fitó, Rector of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; Óscar García, Rector of the Technical University of Madrid; Amparo Navarro, Rector of the University of Alicante; Alfonso Méndiz, Rector of the International University of Catalonia; Antonio Largo, Rector of the University of Valladolid; Pedro María Fernández, Rector of the University of Extremadura; José Joaquín Céspedes, Rector of the University of Almería; Silvia Carrascal, Rector of San Jorge University; José Ignacio García, Rector of the International University of Andalusia; Eva María Giner, Rector of the International University of Valencia; María Vicenta Mestre, Rector of the Universitat de València; Ana Suárez Vázquez, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of the University of Oviedo, along with other vice-rectors, chiefs of staff, Mª Teresa Lozano, Secretary General of CRUE, and Víctor Jiménez, Head of Institutional Projects at CRUE, among others.
