Study in Spain

【The Complutense University Celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science】

On 11 February, four faculties of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) took part in the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026. A significant part of the activities organised by the Faculties of Chemical Sciences and Biological Sciences focused on the fight against cancer. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Philology addressed the orthographic reform proposed by Agustina González, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine created a collaborative mural using post-it notes and participated in an interuniversity round table held at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM).

The Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Benito Muñoz Araujo, welcomed high school students attending the event UCM Women Scientists Against Cancer, organised by the Scientific Culture Unit of the Knowledge Transfer Office (OTC) of UCM in collaboration with the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC).

During the event, Muñoz Araujo encouraged students—particularly female students—to pursue their scientific vocation. He highlighted that the incorporation of women into research is already a reality in the Faculty of Biological Sciences: of the approximately 2,000 undergraduate students enrolled, one third are women, while women represent 60% of postgraduate students. This figure decreases slightly among teaching staff, where there is near parity, with women accounting for 51%, and increases at the management level, as—with the exception of the dean—the four departments are headed by women, who also form the majority of the dean’s team.

Mercedes Taravillo, Director of the OTC (formerly known as OTRI), recalled that the United Nations established the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015, and that activities have been organised at UCM since 2019. According to Taravillo, the inclusion of girls in this celebration aims to encourage scientific vocations and create female role models—an objective that the Complutense University works towards on a daily basis and one she expressed particular pride in.

The Spanish Association Against Cancer was represented by Ana Alcalde, from the Volunteer Department, who explained that in Madrid alone the organisation has 4,000 volunteers who accompany cancer patients with the aim of making their lives easier. Alcalde pointed out that the AECC is the private organisation that invests the most in the fight against cancer in Spain, supporting projects ranging from small-scale initiatives to major international programmes involving more than 300 people.

Thanks to one of the AECC’s grants, Marta Herrero, a researcher in training in the Lymphocyte Immunology Research Group at the Faculty of Medicine of UCM, is able to pursue her doctoral studies. Alongside her, María Salazar Roa, Associate Professor at UCM and Head of the Cancer STEM Lab, and Cristina Aragoneses, a researcher in training in the Haematological Tumours Research Group, collaborating with the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 12 de Octubre Hospital, and the Complutense University of Madrid, shared their professional journeys from their time as students to their current research positions.

All three presented themselves to the high school students as role models in the research profession, which, while highly demanding, is also deeply rewarding—particularly when focused on tackling a disease (or rather, more than 200 diseases grouped under the term cancer) that represents the world’s most significant socio-health challenge and is expected to affect half of the male population and one third of women worldwide by 2030.

Conference at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences

As part of the celebrations, the Faculty of Chemical Sciences invited Ana Ramírez de Molina, Director of IMDEA Nutrition, to give a lecture. Following an introduction by the Dean, Mayte Villalba, the head of one of Madrid’s six Advanced Research Institutes reviewed her research career, from graduating in Chemistry with a specialisation in Biochemistry at UCM to establishing her own Molecular Oncology research group.

Through this group, she has developed innovative initiatives such as the Precision Nutrition and Cancer Laboratory and the mHealth ALIBIRD Platform, both of which are already having a positive clinical impact and achieving high levels of patient satisfaction. She also discussed her involvement in numerous other projects, including the creation of several start-ups linked to the fields of nutrition and health.

Ramírez de Molina—who served as Deputy Director General for Universities, Research and Science of the Community of Madrid from 2023 until December 2025, when she returned to her previous position at the head of IMDEA Nutrition—used her talk to underline the lessons learned at each stage of her professional career. She highlighted the often unseen impact of laboratory research on future clinical applications, the indispensable role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of securing intellectual property to attract future investment and ensure long-term viability.

Throughout her career, she has integrated these principles with a constant focus on identifying lipid metabolism biomarkers and their application in oncology. As she noted, her work has always been guided by curiosity, a willingness to explore new paths and move away from established ones, and a commitment to collaboration as a means of expanding knowledge. “I am proud to belong to a community—the scientific community—with the capacity to bring about transformation,” she concluded.

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【The Faculty of Philology Celebrates the 6th UCM International Predoctoral Conference on English Linguistics】

The Faculty of Philology hosted the sixth edition of UPCEL, the UCM International Predoctoral Conference on English Linguistics, from 21 to 23 January. Organised by the Complutense University’s Doctoral Programme in English Linguistics, the three-day event brought together researchers and professionals from different fields and from countries including Spain, North Macedonia, France, South Korea, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Germany, Algeria, Bulgaria, Norway, Morocco and Hungary.

The conference programme included a range of panel sessions, poster presentations and two keynote lectures delivered by Patricia Bou-Franch of the University of Valencia and Francisco Lorenzo of Pablo de Olavide University.

At the opening ceremony, José Manuel Losada, Vice-Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Philology, highlighted the subtitle of this edition of UPCEL, which refers to the expansion of the horizons of English linguistics in communication, conversation and the development of new methodologies. For this reason, he noted, the conference should be understood not only as a space for research, but also as a forum in which scholars from different disciplines work together in search of answers to new questions.

Fernando Gascón Inchausti, Director of the Doctoral School, which supports this international conference, stressed the importance of research in the humanities, alongside that carried out in STEM fields, “to improve social development”. According to Gascón Inchausti, areas such as English linguistics “are not in a bubble, nor disconnected from the world”; on the contrary, they are present everywhere, given that English is a universal language of communication. For this reason, he argued, public universities must continue to support this type of research and academic event, which may not be “mainstream” but nonetheless respond to fundamental human needs.

Referring to the attendees and speakers, the Director of the Doctoral School remarked that there is nothing doctoral students enjoy more than talking about their dissertations, making meetings such as UPCEL the ideal place “to speak and to listen to others in a relaxed, pleasant and professional environment”. This view was shared by the main organisers of the conference, Isabel Granda Rossi and Estebán López Medina, as well as Marta Sánchez Cócera, a member of the organising committee.

The first keynote lecture of the conference was delivered by Patricia Bou-Franch and focused on debates surrounding medical gaslighting on social media. From the perspective of epistemic injustice, she explained, medical gaslighting refers to the dismissal of patients’ lived experiences by medical authorities, often reflecting broader structural inequalities. Based on a debate that emerged on Instagram, the study found that participants conceptualised medical gaslighting as an epistemic struggle and engaged in identity work through narratives of (dis)affiliation, highlighting its intersectional dimensions. Ultimately, the Instagram debate emerged as a space for epistemic validation and digital activism.

The second keynote speaker, Francisco Lorenzo, was unable to attend the conference in person due to transport disruptions caused by the railway accident in Adamuz. A minute of silence was observed at the opening of the conference in memory of the victims. Lorenzo therefore delivered his lecture online, addressing bilingualism and social inequality. In his presentation, he examined the expansion of bilingual education through a series of models that share the aim of improving linguistic competence in more than one language, which represents—both metaphorically and literally—an increase in capital, a resource that is unevenly distributed across social groups.

The study approached linguistic capital as a global issue and addressed topics such as the bilingual landscape of disadvantaged urban areas, the accumulation of linguistic capital over the course of a lifetime, the relationship between conversational and academic bilingualism, and public policies regulating access to bilingual schools. The speaker concluded that any sociological study of bilingualism must be grounded in a solid linguistic foundation.

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【UCM Honors Organizations Supporting Student Internship Programs】

The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) held the 7th Recognition Ceremony for Partner Organizations of its External Academic Internship Programs on December 3 at the Faculty of Medicine. The event was presided over by Rector Joaquín Goyache and Concepción García Gómez, Vice-Rector for Continuing Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship.

Both university leaders highlighted the growing diversity of organizations that offer internships to UCM students each year. Despite their different profiles, these institutions share a strong commitment to providing students with time, guidance, supervision and trust. The ceremony, they noted, serves as an important opportunity to acknowledge and thank these partners for their essential contribution to student training and to society as a whole.

Rector Goyache explained that UCM currently has more than 12,000 collaboration agreements with companies and institutions. Through the annual recognition event, the university selects several organizations to express gratitude in a tangible and visible way. These collaborations, he said, not only support student development but also help society become more dynamic while contributing to the continuous improvement of UCM.

Vice-Rector García Gómez emphasized that the ceremony celebrates the meaningful cooperation between the university and its partners in preparing students for their academic and professional futures. She described internships as a privileged meeting point between academia and society, allowing students to enter professional environments, develop workplace skills, and explore practical applications of the knowledge gained in the classroom. At the same time, partner organizations benefit from the energy, creativity and fresh perspectives that students bring.
The rector added that one of UCM’s missions is to supply talent to companies, a role clearly reflected in the speeches delivered by representatives of the organizations receiving recognition.

External academic internships play a key role in improving graduates’ employability and shaping employer perceptions. The combination of rigorous academic preparation and high-quality practical experience, the university affirmed, is one of the most decisive factors for students’ job readiness. UCM’s objective is to ensure that each student finds a practical experience aligned with their interests and that partner institutions feel fully supported in their collaboration with the university.

Before the award presentations, attendees viewed a video produced by UCM’s Office of Internships and Employment (OPE), featuring the experiences of five students who completed internships at Faunia, PwC, Fundación ONCE, Desperta Ferro Ediciones and the General Council of Nursing of Spain.

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【Faculty of Commerce and Tourism Holds Second Volunteer Fair】

On November 19, the Faculty of Commerce and Tourism at Complutense University of Madrid held its second Volunteer Fair. María del Rosario Cristóbal, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Cooperation, and Volunteering, along with Dean Francis Blasco, inaugurated the event, which attracted numerous students as well as representatives from institutions and NGOs. In addition to participating in a joint roundtable, the organizations shared information about their activities at booths set up throughout the day in the faculty’s main hall.

Vice-Rector Cristóbal emphasized that, in “challenging and difficult times” like the present, Complutense University remains committed to one of its most important activities: volunteering. She also announced that a new edition of the Complutense Volunteer Fair will take place next week, on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25, at the Somosaguas and Moncloa campuses. Events such as the faculty-level fair help ensure that “our support, assistance, and engagement reach different places.”

Dean Blasco highlighted that volunteering is a priority for the faculty and that this second edition was organized in response to high student interest. She described volunteering as synonymous with solidarity and outlined a three-step approach: self-reflection on one’s own advantages, developing empathy by understanding others’ circumstances and vulnerabilities, and channeling the help one wishes to provide. While volunteering can be done individually, she recommended participating through organizations that know how to maximize the synergies of collaborative work.

According to Jonatan Jair López Muñoz, the Dean’s delegate for Volunteering, the fair was made possible by the swift and positive response of the institutions and organizations contacted. The event, held under the motto “Connect, Participate, Transform!”, featured representatives from multiple organizations, including the Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation Area of the Spanish Youth Institute (INJUVE), the Spanish Volunteer Platform, the Directorate-General for Social Projects, Volunteering, and Cooperation of the Madrid Regional Ministry of Family, Youth, and Social Affairs, the Volunteering Department of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Volunteering of the Madrid City Council, the Madrid Local Assembly of the Red Cross, the Committee to Support the Palestinian People Foundation, Fundación 26 de Diciembre, Solidarios para el Desarrollo, and the Complutense University Cooperation and Volunteering Service.

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【Complutense University Hosts International Congress “Spanish: A Language of Thought?”】

On September 29, the Rector of the Complutense University of Madrid, Joaquín Goyache, inaugurated the international congress “Spanish: A Language of Thought?”, held at the Faculty of Philosophy over two days, with the participation of prominent intellectuals from Spain and Latin America. For the Rector, the answer to the question posed in the congress title is a resounding “yes.” He stressed that in recent years Complutense has taken decisive steps to promote the use of Spanish as a language of thought, knowledge, and research. Among the examples he cited are the Complutense African School, whose first edition was recently held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea—the only country in Africa with Spanish as a native language—and Una Europa, the alliance of European universities in which UCM participates, which will soon hold its General Assembly on the Complutense campus, with Spanish as one of its working languages.

Professor Nuria Sánchez Madrid, from the Department of Philosophy and Society, underlined that this congress makes it possible to debate, assess, and propose measures for the use of Spanish “in a global and international space where philosophy is mostly written and debated in English.” According to Antonio Rivera García, Director of the Department of Philosophy and Society, such a debate is particularly relevant today, as it can be linked to the major political, economic, and especially technological challenges of our time. José María Fuster, President of the SICOMORO Foundation, also emphasized during the opening session that we live in a world in which the interconnection of experimental sciences, social sciences, and the humanities requires deep analysis.

The Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Juan José García Norro, acknowledged that the very title of the congress contains “uncomfortable questions.” He explained that the meeting will, without a doubt, discuss the health of Spanish as a vehicle for transmitting humanistic and philosophical thought and propose measures to improve it, if necessary. But he added that, being hosted in a Faculty of Philosophy, the congress also seeks to go further and deeper: to what extent does speaking in Spanish shape what we think? “Does identity depend on language?” García Norro asked. “Perhaps the answer is not a simple yes or no, but something more nuanced,” he concluded.

This debate on the relationship between language and thought was precisely the topic addressed in the inaugural lecture by Carlos Peña González, jurist, philosopher, and Rector of Diego Portales University in Chile. According to José Luis Villacañas, Professor Emeritus at Complutense and co-director of the congress alongside Professor Jorge Úbeda, Peña is “the most important intellectual in Chile and one of the most important in Latin America.” His reflections, expressed both in his numerous books and in his weekly column in El Mercurio, the most widely read newspaper in Chile, are considered a benchmark.

Rector Carlos Peña explained that the relationship between language and knowledge is one of the great debates that philosophy has been addressing for centuries, with contributions from major thinkers such as Heidegger, Habermas, and Steiner. It was Steiner who, in After Babel, asked how it is possible that human beings, who share the same phonetic and cerebral structures, have developed more than 5,000 different languages. Peña left the audience—composed largely of professors and students from Spain and various Latin American countries—with a thought-provoking question: “If language is not merely an instrument, does this mean that there are more than 5,000 different ways of thinking?”

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