The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO) and the Government of Cantabria have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at enabling high-performance athletes to balance their athletic careers with a quality university education.
The agreement, signed by Luis Martínez Abad, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports for the Government of Cantabria, and Rubén Calderón, rector of UNEATLANTICO, includes various measures designed to help students balance sports with their university studies.
A Scholarship Program for High-Performance Athletes
One of the main focuses of the agreement is the promotion and expansion of UNEATLANTICO’s high-performance sports scholarship program. The university will maintain and expand this program, which is funded with its own resources, and will annually specify the number of grants available, the degree programs for which they may be awarded, and their scope.
Scholarships will be awarded based on public and nondiscriminatory criteria, taking into account both academic and athletic performance. UNEATLANTICO thus seeks to ensure equal opportunities and facilitate access to a university education for athletes who compete at the highest level.
The agreement also provides for the implementation of measures to increase flexibility and provide academic support, as well as career guidance services. These initiatives are designed to enable athletes to continue their studies while balancing their training and competition commitments.
UNEATLANTICO, Committed to Well-Rounded Education
The partnership will also make it possible to develop joint activities to raise awareness and promote sports and university education, strengthening the connection between the two fields.
For its part, the General Directorate of Sports of the Government of Cantabria will help publicize the calls for applications and programs included in the agreement among Cantabrian athletes recognized as high-performance athletes, in addition to participating in the identification of potential beneficiaries.
The agreement thus supports the goal of promoting a dual focus on sports and academics, providing athletes with the tools they need to plan their professional futures without having to give up high-level sports. In addition, the agreement will be in effect for an initial term of four years, with the possibility of being extended for another four years.
Through this partnership, UNEATLANTICO reinforces its commitment to providing academic support to high-performance athletes, promoting a model that aims to balance athletic development with students’ academic preparation and professional future.