How CUNEF Universidad multiplies the impact of university exchanges through the Global Competence Certificate.
This year, more than 350 CUNEF Universidad students will take part in the Global Competence Certificate (GCC) as they prepare for academic study abroad experiences at nearly 120 universities around the world. Developed by AFS Intercultural Programs and delivered with partners such as AIPC Pandora, the GCC helps students develop the power skills and global competencies needed to make the most of their international experience.
Building on the success of last year’s initiative, this 2026 cohort represents a significant expansion in reach. For CUNEF Universidad, a leading higher education institution in Spain specializing in business, law, and STEM, the initiative reflects a commitment to ensuring that international mobility is not only about where students study, but also about how they learn, connect, and engage across cultures & differences.
Research and validated assessments point to the key value of combining international academic experiences with structured intercultural learning. By pairing student mobility with the GCC, AIPC Pandora and AFS are supporting CUNEF Universidad in extending the impact of its internationalization strategy—equipping students with skills they can carry into their academic, professional, and personal lives.
Global Reach through Human-Led Digital Credentials
The current CUNEF Universidad cohort is taking part in academic exchanges across more than 30 countries, with students spending different lengths of time abroad. Alongside their mobility experiences, students are completing Global Up Abroad, a version of the Global Competence Certificate designed specifically to support learners before, during, and after an international experience. From established destinations in Europe and North America to countries across Asia, South America, and beyond, students are putting their learning into practice in diverse cultural contexts.
Through the GCC curriculum, students learn to approach their surroundings with greater curiosity and self-awareness. They are encouraged to suspend judgment, examine stereotypes and generalizations, and reflect on how their own perspectives shape the way they interpret people and situations. They also explore topics such as communication styles, empathy and listening, cultural values, conflict, inequality, and power and privilege—developing practical strategies to navigate differences and build meaningful connections across cultures.
The program combines self-paced online learning with live, facilitated dialogue and structured reflection, allowing students to connect course concepts with their experiences as they unfold. This blended approach helps turn everyday encounters abroad into opportunities for deeper learning.
Ultimately, participants leave with more than a new mindset and skillset. They earn a verifiable digital credential that recognizes their development of global competence, provides a tangible way to demonstrate these skills, and adds a valuable credential to showcase in professional platforms.
Dedicated Support from AIPC Pandora
AIPC Pandora and AFS share a commitment to preparing students to engage thoughtfully and confidently with a globally connected world. This shared vision underpins the way students are supported throughout their GCC experience.
To support a consistent, high-quality learning experience, AIPC Pandora draws on its own team and board to facilitate the program rather than outsourcing these sessions. Volunteer facilitators including Valentina Yane and Delia Castillo bring their time, experience, and personal commitment to each live dialogue session, creating space for students to reflect on their experiences, exchange perspectives, and connect their learning to the realities they encounter abroad.
As the facilitators share:
“Being a facilitator of the Global Competence Certificate allows me to accompany students in broadening their perspective, discovering the value of an interconnected world, and developing skills that prepare them to lead with impact. It is a privilege to be part of this transformative process.”
Delia Castillo“Each group shows me that young people are ready to lead change if they are given the right tools.”
Valentina Yane
Partnerships and People Advancing New Possibilities
A huge thank you to CUNEF Universidad for this inspiring collaboration with AFS–AIPC Pandora that brings the GCC to students in Spain and beyond, and the volunteer facilitators who are at the heart and core of these learning experiences.
Together, these partners demonstrate how higher education institutions and educational organizations can work together to make international mobility a deeper learning experience—combining the opportunity to study abroad with intentional preparation, reflection, and engagement.
By moving beyond the logistics of mobility to integrate structured cross-cultural learning through a blended methodology, this collaboration offers a compelling model for how institutions can maximize the educational impact of international experiences—treating mobility not as an isolated period abroad, but rather as a learning journey that begins with preparation, evolves through reflection and experience, and continues well after students return home.
About the Global Competence Certificate
The AFS Global Competence Certificate, delivered through the Global Up programs, is an award-winning digital educational certification that has supported over 40,000 learners worldwide. With versions tailored for students, educators, and professionals, it is a key tool for organizations committed to fostering global competence. To learn more or request a demo, please visit globalup.com
About AFS
AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. To learn more visit afs.org
About AIPC Pandora
AIPC Pandora is a Spain-based non-profit organization focused on developing globally minded, socially responsible young people through international experiential learning. Founded in 2002, the organization has become a leading organization in the field of global education, creating immersive learning experiences in more than 60 countries. Its programs—ranging from volunteering and professional internships to cultural exchanges—are designed not only to expose participants to different realities, but to help them understand, navigate, and actively engage with an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Explore more at aipc-pandora.org