The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) ranks first among Spanish academic institutions for student participation in volunteering activities during the 2025-2026 academic year. A total of 4,257 students collaborated in USC's programs, primarily from the Social and Legal Sciences branch. The CEU San Pablo University (3,903 students) and the University of Girona (2,462) also showed significant participation.
This high student involvement materialized through 199 projects, of which 7% were newly created. 92% of these initiatives were carried out in collaboration with non-profit organizations, focusing mainly on children, the environment, and hospital volunteering. The duration of most actions, between three and six months, allowed students to balance their commitment with academic demands.
USC strengthens its connection with the local community by developing all its projects in Galicia, collaborating with social entities in the region. These initiatives directly or indirectly benefited nearly 50,000 people.
The study, conducted by the Fundación Mutua Madrileña, reveals a general growth in university volunteering in Spain. In the 2025-2026 academic year, over 3,400 projects were promoted, a 20% increase from the previous year, mobilizing 23,600 students (a 9% rise). 77% of the projects are carried out in collaboration with NGOs.
The profile of the university volunteer indicates that three out of four are women, students from Social and Legal Sciences are predominant, and they dedicate an average of two to four hours per week. Programs related to children, at-risk social groups, and the elderly concentrate the largest number of initiatives.
The vast majority of projects, 85%, are carried out in Spain.
The study is published within the framework of the XIV University Volunteering Awards by Fundación Mutua Madrileña, with the application deadline on October 30th, distributing 50,000 euros among the winning projects.
