Castellón de la Plana, 21 April 2026. The 2nd Mexico–Spain Rectors’ Summit, held at Universitat Jaume I, concluded today with the adoption of a joint declaration that consolidates this forum as a strategic platform for academic cooperation and sets out a shared agenda with impact across the Ibero-American region. The document, presented by the Vice-President of CRUE and Rector of the University of Murcia, José Luján, and by Luis Alberto Fierro, General Coordinator for Academic and Institutional Strengthening at ANUIES, reaffirms the role of universities as key actors in sustainable development, social cohesion and economic progress.
The declaration establishes a comprehensive roadmap structured around strategic priorities. In higher education, it calls for accelerating pedagogical innovation, the digitalisation of teaching, curricular internationalisation and the development of joint programmes. In science, technology and innovation, it promotes shared research agendas aimed at addressing global challenges and strengthening collaboration between universities, research centres and the productive sector. It also reinforces academic mobility—physical, virtual and intersectoral—the development of joint degrees and the simplification of academic recognition, with a view to advancing towards a common university space.
The document also underlines the commitment of universities to the 2030 Agenda, their role in promoting more inclusive and sustainable societies, and the need to strengthen their social impact. In terms of governance, it calls for more agile, transparent and sustainable models, reinforcing institutional autonomy and international strategic partnerships. Notably, it identifies the Mexico–Spain Binational Chairs as a key instrument for structured cooperation, designed to promote high-impact joint projects in research, education and knowledge transfer, with a long-term perspective and tangible results.
In her closing remarks, the President of CRUE and Rector of Universitat Jaume I, Eva Alcón, stated that over the two days of the Mexico–Spain bilateral meeting it had become clear that “cooperation between our university systems is not only solid, but also has enormous potential for growth.”
The joint declaration is available here.
Spanish delegation
The Spanish delegation at the Summit included representatives from 27 universities, as well as one from Andorra, and was led by the President of CRUE and Rector of Universitat Jaume I, Eva Alcón. She was accompanied by members of CRUE’s Governing Board, including Vice-President and Rector of the University of Murcia, José Luján; Vice-President and Rector of CEU San Pablo University, Rosa Visiedo; Board Member and Rector of the Autonomous University of Madrid, Amaya Mendikoetxea; Board Member and Rector of Pablo de Olavide University, Francisco Oliva; and Delegate for Equality Policies and Rector of the University of Cantabria, Concepción López.
Also taking part were the President of Crue-Internationalisation and Cooperation and Rector of UNED, Ricardo Mairal; the President of Crue-R&D&I and Rector of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Julián Garde; the President of Crue-Management and Rector of the University of Alicante, Amparo Navarro; the President of Crue-Digitalisation and Rector of Universitat Politècnica de València, José E. Capilla; the President of Crue-Teaching and Rector of the Public University of Navarre, Ramón Gonzalo; the President of Crue-Academic Staff and Rector of the University of Barcelona, Joan Guàrdia; the new President of Crue-Secretaries General and Rector of the University of Oviedo, Ignacio Villaverde; the President of Crue-Sustainability and Rector of the University of León, Nuria González; and the President of Crue-Student Affairs and Rector of the University of Almería, José Joaquín Céspedes.
The delegation also included the Rector of the University of Burgos, José Miguel García; the Rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado; the Rector of the University of the Balearic Islands, Jaume Carot; the Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco J. García; the Rector of the University of La Rioja, Eva Sanz; the Rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lluís Serra; and the Rector of the University of Zaragoza, Rosa Bolea.
Representing the rectors of the universities of Extremadura, Lleida and the Polytechnic University of Madrid were their respective Vice-Rectors: Mercedes Rico (Academic Planning), Cristian Solé (Internationalisation) and Luis Salgado Álvarez de Sotomayor (Internationalisation).
Also in attendance were the Rector of the University of Andorra, Juli Minoves; the Secretary General of the Ibero-American Programme for Science and Technology for Development (CYTED), Félix García Lausín; and CRUE’s Secretary General, Mª Teresa Lozano, among others.
