As part of an official visit to Spain focused on strengthening bilateral ties, Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie met Luxembourgish students at IE University during a stop in Madrid on Friday, 6 March. For the academic year beginning last September, 21 Luxembourgish students newly enrolled at the university.
More than 10,000 students from around 160 countries are currently enrolled at IE University, with around 90% of them coming from abroad. To date, more than 200 people holding Luxembourgish nationality have successfully completed their studies there, particularly in fields such as law, business, finance, economics, and political science.
In Luxembourg, these sectors fall under the responsibility of Ministers Lex Delles and Gilles Roth, who were also present in Madrid on Friday to answer students’ questions about career opportunities and current challenges. Speaking to RTL, students with Luxembourgish nationality did not rule out returning to work in the Grand Duchy in the future.
Their motivation was not so much the weather, they said jokingly, but rather the professional opportunities available on the job market, as well as the country’s strong social benefits and sense of security – a factor that has become particularly significant in today’s unstable geopolitical climate.
Speaking to the students in Madrid, Grand Duke Guillaume emphasised the importance of the European Union in this context. He told the young audience that their ambitions, creativity, and strong sense of justice are essential for keeping the European project alive in a rapidly changing world.
While interests may shift with markets, elections, and crises, he noted, shared values provide a common compass and a shared vision. Grand Duke Guillaume added that Europe is currently undergoing profound change, stating that the decisions taken today will shape the kind of Union that is passed on to the next generation.
