Fundación CYD (Fundación Conocimiento y Desarrollo)

Universities, knowledge, and development

Fundación CYD (Fundación Conocimiento y Desarrollo) is a private foundation established in late 2002 to study and promote the contribution of universities to Spain's economic and social development. It produces research on Spain's higher education system and works to strengthen connections between universities and businesses.

Research and tools

The foundation regularly publishes studies and reports on Spain's university system. Its resources include:

• Informe CYD: An annual report offering an updated assessment of Spain's university system and universities' contributions to economic and social development.
• Ranking CYD: A tool for comparing Spanish universities using detailed information on institutional performance and academic fields.
• Portrait of the Spanish University System (SUE): A series examining the higher education system, including a report on the employment outcomes of graduates from five academic cohorts, 2014–15 through 2018–19.
• Regional report: Publications such as Spanish Universities: A Regional Perspective, 2026, which includes an interactive map with university information by autonomous community.
• Focused studies: For example, Use and Perception of AI in the University Environment II, based on a survey of 800 Spanish university students.

Mentoring program

Beyond its publications, Fundación CYD runs Mentores CYD, a program that builds connections between universities and businesses and helps students make decisions and develop skills for professional success.

Leadership and governance

The foundation is chaired by Ana Botín. Its board includes representatives of businesses and institutions such as Banco Santander, Boston Consulting Group, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Cuatrecasas, Fundación EY, Goldman Sachs International, Google, Grupo Planeta, Havas, Iberdrola, IBM, Inditex, Indra, Microsoft, Pascual, Telefónica, UAX, UNIR, Uría Menéndez, and Veolia, among others. The executive committee, made up of seven trustees, oversees day-to-day management and meets four times a year. The foundation's director is Sònia Martínez Vivas.

Contact

Fundación CYD is on X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. A contact form is available on its website. Email: fundacioncyd@fundacioncyd.org.