The Mayor of Astillero, Javier Fernández Soberón, paid an official visit to the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), where he was received by the Rector, Rubén Calderón, with the aim of strengthening ties, seeing the campus facilities first-hand and proposing new avenues of collaboration between the two institutions.
During the meeting, the mayor was shown the main areas of the campus, including laboratories, multimedia studios and teaching spaces, on a tour that allowed new options for cooperation to be discussed, especially in relation to the extension of the existing agreement on university internships at Astillero Town Hall.
The visit included an interview on the UNEATLANTICO Radio programme by Paula Díaz-Velarde, a fourth-year student on the Journalism degree course (PER), in which Soberón discussed the present and future of the municipality, as well as the importance of strengthening links with higher education.
During the talk, the mayor described Astillero as a ‘very lively’ municipality, with around 20,000 inhabitants and a balance between urban areas, natural spaces —such as the marshes or the Cantabrian Park— and industry, highlighting the presence of emblematic companies such as Astander.
Soberón also recalled his beginnings as mayor in 2019, when he governed with only five councillors and a very young team. He contrasted that period with the current situation, in which he governs with 15 of the 17 councillors, which, he explained, allows him to promote projects that were previously blocked. Among these, he highlighted the renovation and reopening of the Puente de los Ingleses bridge, a symbol of the municipality.
In the interview, the councillor emphasised the good relationship between the City Council and UNEATLANTICO, recalling the agreement that allows students to do internships in municipal offices. He also pointed out the key role that higher education plays in the region’s labour market, especially in a municipality where 7,000 people work daily in the industrial estate.
The mayor expressed his vision for Astillero in the coming years: a ‘greener, friendlier and more accessible’ municipality, where the focus is on improving the daily lives of residents rather than on large infrastructure projects. He emphasised that citizen participation will be key in defining the next steps: ‘The major projects will be those that our residents set for us.’
Finally, Soberón sent a message to second-year high school students facing important academic decisions: he encouraged them to be well informed, listen to the experiences of other students and learn about the wide range of educational opportunities available in Cantabria, highlighting the role of UNEATLANTICO as a benchmark.
The visit concluded with a word of thanks from the mayor and an invitation for the university radio station to broadcast a future programme from Astillero.
