Projection and internationalization of studies in the Spanish University during Franco’s regime. Reviewing the situation in the University of Salamanca

Abstract

This article aims to point up the strategies applied by the University of Salamanca to establish itself as an institution able to provide a new route to projection and internationalization of the university studies during Franco’s regime. The arrival of foreign students took place through several channels (courses, special lessons, agreements, teacher exchange, etc.) whose presence managed to encourage the gloomy scenery of the Spanish University. Latin America played a fundamental role in this process, becoming the key asset to the increase in foreign students. On the contrary, it took a lot of time to set up and build relationships with Europe and North America, hitherto not lively. A same phenomenon did not occur for Africa. Overall, since the sixties, the University of Salamanca has reached an important projection level and has been able to attract large numbers of foreign students. These data match those recorded in very few national universities. All this makes it an indispensable reference when it comes to discovering the first steps taken in order to achieve the opening of the Spanish University and a small extension of its field of view.