The University of Granada (UGR) has established itself as a national leader in transforming teaching and assessment processes, playing a prominent role in artificial intelligence and adapting to new technological paradigms
The University of Granada is ranked as the top institution in the Forbes list titled “10 Spanish universities redefining educational innovation”, which was published in its first edition on 13 March 2026. This recognition places the UGR at the forefront of the Spanish university system, which comprises 92 public and private universities.
The Forbes ranking highlights the UGR’s role in transforming educational environments in the face of challenges arising from digitalisation and the growth of artificial intelligence. It also emphasises the institution’s ability to anticipate changes, adapt its teaching methodologies and strengthen its academic programmes in response to new technological and social demands.
The most notable factors supporting the UGR’s top position in the ranking include the following:
- Leadership in AI: The UGR has cemented its reputation following its designation in 2025 as the leading Spanish university in terms of generative AI adoption.
- Research excellence: Forbes highlights the cutting-edge research carried out by the UGR in strategic fields such as machine learning, natural language processing and robotics.
- Cutting-edge infrastructure: The publication emphasises the leading role of the Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI) in driving innovation in Andalusia.
- Tailored academic programmes: The UGR has significantly expanded its programmes in data science, AI and digital technologies, thereby strengthening its ability to respond to the needs of the labour market and the knowledge society.
This edition of the Forbes ranking features six private and four public universities, recognising institutions that are redesigning their teaching and assessment methodologies to effectively respond to increasingly dynamic and changing environments. The UGR is a standout example in this context, demonstrating a firm commitment to developing tools, programmes and teaching approaches that transform higher education. In this regard, the University fosters essential cross-disciplinary skills to address the social and technological changes of our time.
List of the 10 Spanish universities redefining educational innovation:
- University of Granada (public)
- Alfonso X el Sabio University (private)
- Charles III University of Madrid (public)
- Open University of Catalonia (private)
- European University (private)
- Polytechnic University of Madrid (public)
- IE University (private)
- Polytechnic University of Catalonia (public)
- Comillas Pontifical University (private)
- CEU San Pablo University (private)
For Salvador del Barrio, the UGR’s Vice-Rector for Ceuta and Melilla Campuses, Strategic Planning and Communications, this recognition from Forbes “confirms that the University of Granada is successfully anticipating the changes that are currently transforming higher education. This news underlines our institution’s commitment to teaching innovation, research excellence, and the adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve education.”
The full results are available on the “UGR in Rankings” website: https://analitica.ugr.es/rankings/ranking/ranking-forbes/
Contact details:
Secretariat for Strategic Planning
Vice-Rectorate for Ceuta and Melilla Campuses, Strategic Planning and Communications
Email: @email
Translated version: This text has been translated into English by the Language Services Unit (Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization) of the University of Granada.
