Bilateral agreements
Spain participates in different bilateral agreements through the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, the main ones being:
| FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS | |
| Purpose | increase mutual knowledge and understanding between Spain and the United States |
| Actions |
|
| Destination | United States (US) of America |
| Target groups | higher education graduates, Doctors and artists, depending on the action |
| Requirements |
|
| Duration | between 3 and 24 months, depending on the action being applied for |
| Funding | it varies depending on the action, although it normally includes registration/tuition fees, travel expenses (one return journey) as well as accident and health insurance |
| Health coverage | the US Government covers the costs of the accident and health insurance |
| Certification | accreditation of the studies/training undertaken at the relevant educational institution |
| Responsible bodies | Fulbright Commission, made up of both Governments: the US Government through its Department of State, and the Spanish Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training |
Source: Drawn up by Eurydice Spain-Spanish Network for Information on Education (National Institute for Educational Evaluation, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training) on the basis of the call.
| VISITING TEACHERS (UNITED STATES, CANADA, CHINA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND IRELAND) | |
| Purpose | provide an opportunity to teach in a country with a different cultural and professional background, where beneficiaries teach Spanish as a foreign language or different curricular areas of the education system of the relevant country |
| Actions | stays in educational institutions abroad |
| Destination | United States (US), Canada, United Arab Emirates and Ireland |
| Target groups | teaching staff |
| Requirements |
|
| Duration | 1 school year, which can be extended |
| Funding | the remuneration of selected candidates varies depending on the contracting educational authority, as well as their teaching experience and educational qualifications the contract is formulated under the terms agreed by both parties concerning working conditions and its date and form, in accordance with the labour legislation in the US, Canada, the UK or China the selected candidates will have to bear the costs of travel and transfer for their incorporation, except for candidates assigned to China, who will receive a grant of a maximum of 10,000 yuan (approximately 1,300 EUR) for travel expenses |
| Health coverage | teachers must take out medical insurance in compliance with the visa regulations the school districts provide them with information on health insurance, leaving it to their choice government-employed teachers abroad who are affiliated to MUFACE (the General Mutual Insurance Society for Civil Servants), as well as their beneficiaries, have insurance through an agreement this Society signs with an insurance company. They may also choose the one offered by their school district |
| Certification | certificate detailing the services provided by the beneficiary as visiting teacher in the US, Canada, United Arab Emirates and Ireland |
| Responsible bodies | the Department for Education of the relevant State in the US, the Ministry of Education of the province of Alberta in Canada, United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education, Irish Ministry of Education and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training |
Source: Drawn up by Eurydice Spain-Spanish Network for Information on Education (National Institute for Educational Evaluation, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training) on the basis of the call.
| LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS | |
| Purpose | promote learning and dissemination of the Spanish language and culture abroad improve the knowledge of the language and culture of Spanish language assistants in the host country |
| Actions | stays in foreign institutions |
| Destination | Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brasil, Canada, United States, Russian Federation, France, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland |
| Target groups | Spanish citizens with a university degree or students in their last university year |
| Requirements |
|
| Duration | 1 school year |
| Funding | accommodation, subsistence and medical insurance costs it is compatible with other grants, sources of income or resources for the same purpose |
| Health coverage | depending on the destination country. The European Health Insurance Card provides health coverage in accordance with the legislation of the destination country, taking into account the nature of the benefits and the length of the stay, if it is in territory of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. If the destination is a different country, they are required to have a health insurance plan, which is valid in the host country. In the case of the United States and Canada, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training will cover insurance costs |
| Certification | certificate of participation in the Programme |
| Responsible bodies | the relevant international bodies and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training |
Source: Drawn up by Eurydice Spain-Spanish Network for Information on Education (National Institute for Educational Evaluation, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training) on the basis of the call.
| SPANISH COLLEGE IN PARIS - GRANTS FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS | |
| Purpose | complete at least one year of study in France |
| Actions | stays to undertake studies and participate in training activities |
| Destination | French State, in Paris or in the Île-de-France region |
| Target groups | Resident student, Resident researcher, Resident artist |
| Requirements |
|
| Duration |
|
| Funding | residence in the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris and/or the Spanish College |
| Health coverage | the European Health Insurance Card provides health coverage in accordance with the legislation of the destination country, taking into account the nature of the benefits and the length of the stay. Otherwise, they are required to have a health insurance plan which is valid in the host country |
| Responsible bodies | Spanish College (at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris) and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training |
Source: Drawn up by Eurydice Spain-Spanish Network for Information on Education (National Institute for Educational Evaluation, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training) on the basis of the call.
Cooperation and participation in worldwide programmes and organisations
Europe
Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education
This body, dependent on the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, is responsible for managing the participation of Spain in the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU.
SEPIE is in charge of the following aspects:
- managing efficiently and transparently the European and national funds for the decentralised actions of the Erasmus+ programme;
- disseminating the opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme in order to improve the educational and training capacities of students, teachers and workers at all levels of education;
- improving the reception of foreign students, teachers and researchers in Spain, as well as of Spaniards abroad;
- enhancing the employability of participants and the internationalisation of education and training organisations.
In addition, it is in charge of the promotion of other European initiatives in education, such as the Euroscola Prize, the European Label for innovative projects in language teaching and learning, the Europass, and the Portfolio.
European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education
The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, founded in 1996, is an independent and self-governing organisation composed by the Ministries of Education of the 29 member countries that integrates the organisation. The organisation acts as their platform for collaboration in the field of special needs education with the aim of contributing to the improvement of quality in education. This organisation is supported by the European Commission and Parliament.
Some of the initiatives in which Spain participates include the following:
- inclusive early childhood education;
- improving the performance of all students in inclusive education;
- new technologies for information accessibility;
- inclusion in vocational training;
- overview of the implementation of inclusive education policies;
- accessible information for lifelong learning actions;
- teacher training;
- assessment in inclusive environments;
- inclusive education indicators.
Latin America
Organisation of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture
This is an international governmental body for cooperation among Ibero-American countries in different areas, including education. Its goal is to promote the universal right to education and to improve quality and equity in lifelong learning.
Among the initiatives in which Spain participates, the following can be mentioned: the Ibero-American Intergovernmental Network for Technical Cooperation for Special Needs Education (RIINE), the Ibero-American Education Network for Young People and Adults (RIEJA) and the Ibero-American Network of Information and Communication Technology and Education (RIATE).
Andrés Bello Agreement
The Andrés Bello Agreement is an intergovernmental organisation aimed at promoting the educational, scientific and technological integration of its member countries. Spain has been a member since 1982.
Spain, like the rest of states, contributes to the recognition of basic and secondary education, recognises the qualifications obtained in the member states for access to postgraduate studies, and proposes specific lines for action, which include exchanges for technical assistance, internships, seminars, training workshops and exchanges of experts.
Carolina Foundation
The Carolina Foundation is a public-private institution, established in 2000, which promotes cultural relations and educational and scientific cooperation between Spain and Ibero-American countries.
Among its programmes related to education, it is worth highlighting:
- Training Programme (Grants), whose aim is to facilitate and promote further study in Spain for university graduates from Latin America and Portugal through grants;
- International Visitors’ Programme, which intends to create and consolidate bilateral and cooperation relations between Spain and the countries to be given priority for Spanish foreign action;
- Living in Spain Programme, which seeks to provide Latin American beneficiaries a deeper understanding of the Spanish reality and allow them to establish links between them, as well as with Spain and the Foundation;
- Carolina Network, designed to emphasise and strengthen the exchange, cooperation and learning relations the Carolina Foundation generates through the different programmes.
International
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
In 1960, Spain signs an agreement with the OECD, whose task is to promote policies to improve the economic development and social welfare of people around the world.
In the field of education, the following thematic lines are considered:
measurement of results, teaching and learning, development and use of skills, policy development and implementation, and innovation and the future of education.
Among the OECD actions in which Spain is involved, the most important ones are:
- the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA);
- the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS);
- the Education Systems Indicators Project (INES).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Since 1953, Spain takes part in the work of the UNESCO. As regards education, the following broad areas are covered: key elements in education, education systems, educational planning and management, and international action.
When it comes to participation in UNESCO projects, Spain is a member of:
- The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, which is organised around the following themes: citizenship and values education, early childhood education, education for sustainable development, entrepreneurship education, higher education, languages, lifelong learning, inclusive education, the right to education, teacher training, and technical and vocational training, gender equality, education for health and well-being, education in emergencies, education policy and planning, Information and Communication Technologies, literacy, school violence and bullying.
- The UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet). It is global network of more than 9 000 educational institutions in 176 countries. Spain participates with approximately 220 Associated Schools located in most Autonomous Communities.