On July 12, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, met a group of Syrian students who arrived in Spain last May to carry out master's and doctoral studies at Spanish universities. The meeting took place at the Palacio de la Magdalena, the headquarters of the menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP).

The minister was accompanied during the meeting by the director of the Universidad.es Foundation, Mònica Margarit, and the Rector of the UIMP, Salvador Ordóñez. In an informal and cordial atmosphere, Mr Moratinos was able to speak at length with the students about Syria as a good connoisseur of this country, as well as about different aspects of their stay in Spain. One of the students took the opportunity to congratulate Mr Moratinos and all Spaniards on the victory of the Spanish national football team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The arrival of the 21 Syrian students in Spain is the result of the cooperation agreement for postgraduate training signed by the Universidad.es Foundation and the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education in Damascus in October 2009, in the presence of Mr Moratinos.

The students, most of whom are university lecturers in their country, are currently receiving Spanish language courses at the UIMP in preparation for their studies in Spain. They will stay in Santander until the end of August. In September, they will join 14 Spanish universities to pursue their master's and doctoral studies in areas of knowledge ranging from engineering sciences, chemistry and biotechnology to language studies.

Under this agreement, the Foundation hopes to welcome 50 more Syrian students to continue their postgraduate training in Spain in the coming academic year.

Universidad.es is a public sector foundation that aims to promote the Spanish university system throughout the world. The foundation was set up by the Spanish government with the support of Spanish universities, the regional governments and other institutions. Universidad.es was formally constituted on 23 December 2008.