University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), founded in 1495, is one of the university institutions with a great tradition in Europe. The different degrees offered by USC are organised into their two campuses: one is located in Santiago de Compostela and the other in Lugo. Both campuses complement each other, aiming to construct a unity despite the different specializations each of them offers. These specializations are distributed in Humanities (11 degrees); Social and Law Sciences (20); Experimental (8) and Health Sciences (9) and Technical Degrees (10). USC also offers a significant number of doctoral programs (54) and a wide of masters degrees (64) and specialization courses. In addition USC is collaborating in Erasmus Mundus programmes as part of its interest of improving the teaching and studies in European Universities.

In terms of human resources, the university has more than 2,000 professional and research personnel (about 38% female) involved in education and research involved in study and research, over 30,000 students each year, and more than 1,000 people working in administration and services (about 8% supporting research activities).

The University’s yearly total budget is about €230 million. Research and Technology Development is one of the most important activities in the USC having the infrastructure facilities and human resources needed for the training of young researchers. More than 250 research teams, belonging to the different Departments and Research Institutes, offer a high quality scientific production in different areas of a main socioeconomic interest which has allowed a narrow technological cooperation with regional, national and international institutions, companies and SMEs. These R&D activities were supported with an average of €65 million/year (20% corresponding to contracts with private companies and 60% to competitive public funds) during the last 5 years.

In addition different research groups have participated (and work) actively in more than 100 projects under the various European Union RTD Framework Programmes and Initiatives including Training Networks of Marie-Curie fellowships, and more than 30 MC grant holders have been hosted by USC. These figures show the activities and expertise of the research teams from the USC which are supported by the different units under the Area of Management and Valuation of Research, Development and Innovation which in charge of the R&D management, and hold more than 20-years’ expertise in the financial and administrative management of EU projects and subsidies from other Entities, and responsible for USC’ Knowledge Transfer management

As a result of the education, research and social commitment of USC, a main project called Campus Vida (https://www.campusvida.info) has been awarded by the Spanish Ministries of Education and of Science and Innovation with the International Campus of Excellence recognition. Campus Vida defines and contributes to the development of a new model of sustainable economic and social growth based on talent, innovation and internationalisation.