Spanish universities: Challenges and capacity for agency

Abstract

This paper deals with some of the most relevant features of the Spanish university system in order to provide specific insight into the current situation of the university in facing challenges in the near future. The analysis was conducted using key national and international reports. One main concern the paper addresses is how to strengthen universities’ capacity for agency with regard to the following issues: how to deal with the changing socio-productive model from within the higher education system, how to rethink and be more efficient in creating opportunities and enhancing human capital (training) for wider and more diverse layers of the population (equity), and to what extent the Spanish higher education system is well aligned with that of other countries belonging to the European Higher Education Area.