INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
The UCM promotes and develops programmes and joint actions with outside institutions through cooperation agreements on a national level (national, regional and local governments; different manufacturing and service industries; research and development institutions and foundations). During the academic year 2008-2009, the UCM managed 724 cooperation agreements: 355 with businesses, 157 with foundations, associations, NGOs and federations, 12 with hospitals 98 with public institutions, 57 with universities and 44 with other entities.
In addition, one of the cornerstones of the institutional policy of the Complutense University of Madrid is to push for a strategy for university cooperation for development aid. This effort should be understood as a commitment to responsibility in our relationship with underdeveloped countries. As a result, among other activities a Development Aid Fund has been set up to finance development cooperation projects selected through annual calls for proposals. The Fund will be endowed by the designation of 0,7% of the discretionary budget of university centres, as well as by funds contributed by the Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Relations and Cooperation, the General Foundation of the UCM, the Santander Group, the Community of Madrid and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI).
Since 2004 there have been annual calls for proposals to provide funding for projects, programmes and cooperation activities in educational, scientific and cultural spheres that contribute to improving the conditions of life and education for people in underdeveloped countries or for the most underprivileged groups in the Community of Madrid. As a result of the 6th Call for Development Aid Projects for 2009, 24 projects were funded in 14 countries, plus 5 two-year projects (with funding approved in 2008) totalling 636,739.44 euros.
