Madrid, 10 June 2026. Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) today hosted the opening session of the Spain–Uzbekistan University Forum in Madrid. Organised by the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE), the event brings together representatives of universities and higher education institutions from Spain and Uzbekistan with the aim of strengthening academic, scientific and institutional cooperation between the two countries. The forum takes place on 10 and 12 June at the campuses of Rey Juan Carlos University and the University of Barcelona, respectively.
The opening session provided an opportunity to examine the context and prospects for cooperation between the higher education systems of Spain and Uzbekistan, while also addressing issues related to the internationalisation of higher education, academic mobility and the development of joint projects. University representatives, institutional leaders and experts from both countries participated in the meeting to exchange experiences and explore new avenues for academic and scientific collaboration.
The programme includes sessions dedicated to the role of Erasmus+ as a framework for bilateral cooperation, as well as discussions on the promotion of the Spanish language and culture, educational innovation, and the challenges associated with the green and digital transitions. The second day of the forum will take place on 12 June at the University of Barcelona.
Representing CRUE at the opening session was Abraham Duarte, Rector of Rey Juan Carlos University, which hosted the first day of the event. CRUE’s participation reflects the commitment of the Spanish university system to strengthening international academic cooperation and developing strategic partnerships with institutions around the world.
During the opening session, Abraham Duarte stated that “at CRUE, we consider international cooperation to be an essential part of university life. Meetings such as this create new opportunities for collaboration in areas including student and staff mobility, research, innovation and talent development. They also help strengthen ties between our universities and academic communities.”
Duarte also stressed that “this forum takes place at a particularly timely moment, allowing us to share perspectives, examine cooperation frameworks and, above all, build concrete opportunities for academic and institutional collaboration.”
According to SEPIE, “this forum represents a further step in consolidating academic relations between Spain and Uzbekistan” and seeks to ensure that “the growing mutual interest is translated into stable partnerships and concrete projects between our universities: new mobility and cooperation opportunities within Erasmus+, joint programmes, scientific and academic collaboration, the promotion of Spanish, and shared initiatives in strategic areas such as the green and digital transitions.”
SEPIE also highlighted that “the participation of such a broad and diverse representation of institutions from both countries demonstrates that there is a solid foundation on which to continue moving forward, strengthening the links between our higher education systems and creating new opportunities for long-term cooperation.”
