This is the fifth consecutive year the UIC, with the support of Banco Santander through its Santander Universities Global Division, has awarded the Alumni-Banco Santander fellowships. To be eligible, students must be members of the Association of UIC Alumni and Friends or must meet a series of requirements regarding criteria such as their academic record and economic and family situation (large families, families on unemployment, disabilities, orphans, etc.). With this financial aid, the UIC aims to improve students' welfare in areas that go beyond academic training.

The ceremony was presided over by UIC Rector Pere Alavedra. Also in attendance were Pablo Cigüela, the Assistant General Director of Banco Santander and Regional Director for Catalonia; Alfredo Albáizar, the Director of Santander Universities in Spain; Antonio Pérez Portabella, the director of Santander Universities in Catalonia; and Xavier Amat, the president of the UIC Alumni Association. Marc Pertíñez, a student from the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Law, said a few words of thanks on behalf of the students awarded fellowships.

Since 2004, Banco Santander has collaborated on this and other UIC initiatives through its Santander Universities Global Division, which channels the bank's social action and maintains stable alliances with more than 1,040 universities and research centres around the world.