The current educational legislation shows the commitment of the Spanish education system towards the European and international dimensions of education and takes up the challenge of opening it to the world. This international dimension is present in the competences and subjects of the curricula for the different types of non-university education.
- The Spanish Foreign Education Action is governed by the provisions of the Royal Decree 1027/1993 and Royal Decree 1138/2002 and includes the promotion and organization of:
- Formal education corresponding to non-university levels of the Spanish educational system.
Mixed curricula with content from the Spanish educational system and those from other educational systems.
These two modalities are aimed equally at students of Spanish or foreign nationality.
The Action also includes the promotion and organization of support programmes within the framework of foreign educational systems to teach the Spanish language and culture, support programmes for exchanges in the educational field and, in general, any measures that can contribute to facilitating Spaniards access to education abroad and to enhance the projection of Spanish education and culture abroad.
Spanish Foreign Education Action also contributes to the maintenance of cultural and linguistic ties of Spanish residents abroad. To this end, the Spanish administration pays special attention to the organization of teaching and activities aimed at Spanish residents enrolled in non-university levels of the respective educational systems.
The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation and the Cervantes Institute, promote all the foreign educational actions through a series of mechanisms:
- Education Councils, Attaché Offices and Consultants' Offices
- Resource Centres
- Spanish Language and Culture Heritage Programme (ALCE - Agrupaciones de Lengua y Cultura Españolas)
- Language and Culture Assistants
- Iberoamerican agreements with schools
- Spanish Schools Abroad
- Shared Ownership Shools
- European Schools
- International Spanish Academies (ISA)
- Visiting Teachers
- Bilingual Sections
- Spanish Sections
As far as higher education is concerned, the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training for the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030) highlights in its strategic priority number 2 the need to establish mobility as a reality for all. Mobility for learners, teachers, trainers and staff is defined as a key element for EU cooperation.
Student and teacher mobility is also a priority area for the MEFP. Through multiple public calls, it encourages the promotion, internationalisation, quality and excellence of education by providing students and teaching staff with the opportunity to study, work and/or teach abroad. These actions are complemented by those developed by the European Union through the new Erasmus + Programme 2021-2027.
Regarding international cooperation in education, the Spanish membership in the EU, as well as the strong cultural and historical bonds with Latin America, guarantee a deep involvement of Spain in European and Ibero-American programmes. In addition, as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spain also takes part in educational initiatives and projects promoted by both international bodies.