Francisco de Vitoria University Launches Spain's First Official Master's in Comprehensive Accompaniment

Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) has announced the launch of the Master's Degree in Comprehensive Accompaniment, the first official programme of its kind within the Spanish university system. The new degree, set to commence in the 2025-2026 academic year, aims to meet the growing demand for professional training in accompanying individuals through personal, educational, social, and organisational development processes.

With an interdisciplinary approach, the master's integrates content from the fields of Humanities, Psychology, and Educational Sciences. It will be delivered in person at the UFV campus in Madrid and is aimed at professionals from various sectors who work directly with people: educators, social workers, healthcare personnel, team leaders, or mediators.

The academic proposal is based on understanding accompaniment as a structured professional relationship, grounded in active listening, meaningful presence, and support in change processes. In addition to theoretical training, the master's includes supervised practice, individual mentoring, and the development of a final research project.

This new programme builds on UFV's previous experience in this field. Since 2016, the university has conducted eight editions of the Master's in Educational Accompaniment and three of the International Accompaniment Programme, experiences that have helped consolidate a community of professionals and a research base with specialised publications.

According to Ángel Barahona, the master's director, "this is a training proposal that addresses the need to train professionals capable of accompanying complex human processes from various disciplines, with a comprehensive perspective."

The master's also opens the possibility of progressing to a doctorate and participating in research projects in the field of accompaniment, an expanding area in both academic and professional environments.

Since its inception, UFV has incorporated accompaniment as part of its educational model. In 1993, it launched regulated academic advisory services, and in 2011, it established the International School of Accompaniment. Over the years, it has trained more than 700 professionals in this area.

With this new official degree, Francisco de Vitoria University strengthens its commitment to education centred on the individual and the development of relational skills applicable in multiple professional contexts.