The Consejería de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades of the Government of Cantabria and Fundación Dádoris signed a partnership agreement in Santander on 9 November 2026. The aim is to better reach and support pupils with high academic potential and limited financial means as they move on to university or higher vocational training. The authorities intend to circulate the foundation’s calls for applications and information systematically to schools and their management and guidance teams, so that potential candidates are informed at an early stage.
The partnership centres on financial assistance for accommodation and tuition fees as well as complementary offers such as language courses, international stays, cultural activities and company internships. The focus is on students in the final years of Bachillerato and participants in Ciclos de Formación Profesional who fall within the income limits set by the authorities and demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.
The Consejería de Educación said the partnership was intended to raise awareness of the support programme in Cantabria significantly. So far, no candidate from the region had been selected, said education minister Sergio Silva. The programme for the academic year 2027/2028 will be actively promoted in Cantabria until February 2027.
According to the foundation, it has been active for around ten years and has awarded 350 prizes worth a total of 1.7 million euros to date. In the 2024/2025 academic year, 77 beneficiaries from 14 Autonomous Communities received support; women accounted for around 60 per cent, it says. The foundation also cites more than 200 mainly retired professionals who support projects on a voluntary basis, as well as partners from finance, business, trade unions and universities.
Operational details of how the scheme will work in Cantabria remain unclear. It has not been stated whether a quota will be reserved for the region or what specific criteria will be used to prioritise applicants when several meet the requirements. Transparent figures on applications, awards and study outcomes would be needed for a later assessment of its effectiveness. The agreement initially focuses on sharing information and making the scheme easy to access; it is therefore aimed particularly at schools, guidance staff and families who might otherwise not learn about the funding without targeted information.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).