Santander US has announced a $25 million investment aimed at supporting education, employability and entrepreneurship. This funding includes over $10 million allocated for university grants and national scholarships through its Santander Universities program.
The scholarship applications will be accessible later this year via Santander Open Academy, a global platform that offers free educational resources and professional development tools to learners worldwide.
“Continuous learning is imperative to keep up with the pace of change, and we believe that businesses must be a partner in equipping people with the educational tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s society,” said Christiana Riley, Chief Executive Officer and President of Santader US.
Santander’s latest global workforce report, Tomorrow’s Skills, surveyed 15,000 people across 15 countries and emphasized that while college graduates generally feel prepared for the workforce, many Americans express concerns about keeping pace with changing job market demands.
Nearly 80% of respondents believe lifelong learning is essential, yet cost remains the primary obstacle lifelong learning is essential, yet cost remains the primary obstacle to ongoing education. Over half of those surveyed feel companies should take responsibility for providing continuous education opportunities.
With a 28-year history of supporting education and entrepreneurship, Santander has provided access to learning and job opportunities for more than 2 million students and professionals in 2024 alone.
