For the phrase 'to want is to be able' not to remain a topic more present in coffee cups than in reality, something more than a desire is needed, the firm conviction that, as Newton said, every action has its reaction. An example? Banco Santander's commitment to facilitating access to all types of scholarships for many groups for years has had its reaction: progress and inclusive and sustainable growth of a fairer, more equal and prosperous society. And yes, going back to the expression with which we opened the text, it is power. Power of change so that those who really want can. We are talking about the Santander Scholarships.
Within the Bank they are already considered as one more institution. Sometimes a springboard, sometimes a pillar, a first stone or a lifeline. A network of opportunities woven by the financial entity in a pioneering and consolidated commitment to education, entrepreneurship and employment. Due to the quality, volume and depth of its proposals, it distinguishes it from the rest of the financial entities in the world. Many of these scholarships have meant a before and after not only for the life of the beneficiary, but for their community or for the area in which they were developed. In short, for society.
The latest additions are the more than 80,000 scholarships announced by Banco Santander in the second half of the year through global and local initiatives carried out in 11 countries (Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, USA, Spain, Mexico, Poland, Portugal , United Kingdom and Uruguay). Among the global programs -aimed at university students and professionals from these eleven geographies- those that focus on the labor market stand out: on the development of new skills and language learning that leads to an improvement in employability in a context of deep digital transformation.
Within this framework, we find the Santander Skills|Upskill your Talent 2022 Scholarships, launched together with the ESADE business school. These are 1,000 scholarships that offer the possibility of acquiring the so-called 'soft skills' most in demand by recruiters through four available programs: Leadership, Communication and Influence, Personal Branding and Digital Soft Skills. In other words, all those 'soft skills' that extend the fundamental skills for the personal and professional development of the candidates and that, as estimated, can influence up to 80% of the weight of the decision in a selection process. of personal. The programs are free of charge, are available in Spanish, English or Portuguese, and are designed so that each student can progress at their own pace.
Secondly, another of the most outstanding scholarships of the semester are the Santander Language|English to Boost your Career 2022 Scholarships. This is a learning program aimed at those interested in progressing in their professional careers in a context of a more global than ever in which promoting professional English is key. Designed and directed by one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the University of Pennsylvania, the program offers participants the opportunity to improve their professional career by increasing their linguistic skills and vocabulary in this language, essential to achieve their professional goals in any part of the world.
The program, which closes the registration period on November 15, consists of three different options: English for Professional Development, English for Business and Entrepreneurship and English for STEM. If the global programs of Santander Scholarships in the second half of the year focus their attention on improving languages and digital transformation, it should be noted that in the first half of 2022 the scholarship training programs focused on strengthening female leadership skills and in communication or negotiation skills with partner institutions such as the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the University of Cambridge, the British Council or Harvard Business Publishing Education.
If we bring the focus closer to the scholarships offered in Spain, in this second semester the main programs promoted by the financial institution are the Santander Studies Scholarships | Progress and Santander Erasmus. The first, endowed with 1,000 euros each, intend to help undergraduate or master's students with good academic records with their expenses to facilitate their access to higher education and their application period extends until November 11; the second, European mobility, will be offered from November and each year recognize the academic excellence of Erasmus students, in addition to promoting inclusion and equal opportunities to access an international study experience.
Regardless of where they are carried out, the common objective of all Santander Scholarship programs, both in Spain -where in 2021 alone it awarded 30,000 scholarships and grants for entrepreneurship- and in the rest of the countries where the bank is present, is the promotion of continuous learning. No matter the profile, age or field, all open initiatives seek to increase employment opportunities through the reinforcement of professional skills (upskilling) or professional recycling (reskilling).
"The scholarship programs and initiatives reinforce Banco Santander's commitment to continuous learning, or Lifeling Learning, favoring excellence and equal opportunities", highlights Blanca Sagastume, deputy global director of Santander Universities, a global initiative, unique and a pioneer through which the entire scholarship structure has been articulated for more than 25 years to offer education and employment opportunities for students and professionals (with the Santander Scholarships) and businesses and SMEs (with the Santander X Scholarships).
“At Santander Universities we are clear that our future lies in continuing to evolve towards promoting continuous learning as a fundamental tool for improving employability”, highlights Javier Roglá, global director of Santander Universities. An activity that can be summed up in some impact figures: more than 790,000 students, professionals, businesses and SMEs helped, with nearly 2,100 million euros invested and agreements with nearly 1,000 universities and academic institutions in 15 countries.
Opening channels so that startups, micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs can obtain the resources they need to grow and consolidate in the market is one of the priorities of the financial institution. Santander X is one of the most emblematic initiatives for entrepreneurship. The objective is none other than to promote the best projects and ideas, promoting talent, competitiveness and employability. How? Through the call for global challenges that serve to find innovative solutions that can scale globally. In this way, the best startups and scaleups from 11 countries are discovered, which are offered training and visibility.
Among other initiatives, the Santander X Global Awards stand out, recognizing the best projects in two categories: 'Launch' for entrepreneurial projects that are preparing to go to market, and 'Accelerate' for high-impact technology startups with sustainable growth. This global award has its local editions in different countries, whose winners represent their different geographies in the international edition. The winners, in turn, become part of Santander X 100, an exclusive entrepreneurial community that promotes networking, connecting the winners with the resources they need to grow their projects: advice and training, capital, clients, talent. and other sources of value.
Also in this line, the Explorer program stands out, whose objective is to promote university entrepreneurship and support the conversion of ideas into projects and solutions. In the previous edition, Explorer had 1,000 ideas, where female participation reached 43.1%, exceeding the average of previous editions, which was around 30%. In total, there are already 8 countries in which the program is developed: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. In its 11 years of history, more than 8,000 entrepreneurial projects have been supported.
