Bank Awards Grants For Spanish-Language Good Governance Institute

Spain-based financial institution Banco Santander gave Miami Dade College’s program for good government in Latin America, Goberna Las Americas, a $500,000 donation on March 30.

“Goberna Las Americas Miami aims to create a virtual and in-person continuing education space for Spanish-speaking professionals across the globe interested in enhancing their knowledge of public policy, transparency, citizen security, gender equality and other related fields,” said Tatiana Mackliff, director of International Education.

Goberna Las Americas opened last fall and has served more than 150 students who study in  month-long virtual, individual or group courses.

According to Mackliff, the program is geared toward Spanish-speaking leaders from throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and the United States. Participants have come from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina.

Students who complete at least one virtual course receive a certificate of participation issued by both institutions: Miami Dade College and the Instituto Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset (IUIOG).

Students who take six virtual courses and complete the final coursework may apply for a university Magíster degree from Spain’s IUIOG.

Participants can also come to MDC for three-day courses of on-site executive public administration courses in Spanish.

According to the Goberna Las Americas website, the program is geared to those individuals who have an interest in politics and government, public administration, communications, political strategy and specific key policy issues—including: immigration, security, fiscal responsibility, decentralization, gender equality and law, and judicial transparency.

According to Forbes magazine, Banco Santander reached $7.1 billion in profits in 2011.

“They are the most important bank in Spain,” said Juan Mendieta, MDC communications director. “Their role is more of a funding partner.”

The Goberna Las America Miami is a program funded by the Spanish Ortega-Marañon Foundation. Instructors at the institute are professors at MDC and the Ortega-Marañon Foundation.

At a March 30 ceremony at Wolfson Campus, MDC President Eduardo J. Padrón, Banco Santander chairperson Ana Patricia Botín and Ortega-Marañon Foundation president José Varela Ortega, signed the agreement.

Santander Universities is a division of Banco Santander that serves as an outreach program to support education.

The Santander Corporate Website states Santander Universities, has collaborated with universities for more than 18 years on a unique global initiative.

They have set up institutions in countries like Brazil, Russia, Argentina, Mexico, Germany and more.

In the past year they have allocated more than $146 million Euros to research and their university programs. They plan to spend $1.7 billion Euros until 2018.   

For the new school year, Mendieta wants to see more students take advantage of the program.

“We’d like to see some growth and serve an even greater number of students,” Mendieta said.