07.05.2026
42, the Third Most Innovative University in the World for the Second Consecutive Year
42, the Third Most Innovative University in the World for the Second Consecutive Year
The 42 project, the free coding campus driven by Fundación Telefónica, retains third place for the second consecutive year in the WURI ranking (World University Rankings for Innovation) of the world’s most innovative universities. A historic milestone that makes 42 the first European university to hold this position, cementing its status as a global benchmark for disruptive technology education.
The 2026 WURI Rankings place 42 third worldwide, ahead of institutions such as Stanford, MIT and Caltech, and leading the European podium for educational innovation. In the full list, 42 is only surpassed by Minerva University and Arizona State University.
A project that redefines technology education
Over its 13-year journey — since its founding in Paris in 2013 — the 42 project has proven that a free, teacher-less education model built on peer-to-peer learning can compete with and surpass the world’s most established university systems. Its innovative methodology, focused on real-world projects and the development of key competencies such as problem-solving, autonomy and collaborative work, directly addresses the needs of today’s digital job market.
The professional profiles that 42 trains — big data, cybersecurity, blockchain, video game development and artificial intelligence — are precisely those most in demand across the technology and business ecosystem. This alignment between education and employment is one of the cornerstones behind the project’s international recognition.
42, the Third Most Innovative University in the World for the Second Consecutive Year
Fundación Telefónica’s commitment to digital talent
For Fundación Telefónica, 42 is far more than a coding campus: it is the most tangible expression of its mission to democratise access to technological knowledge and create real opportunities for young people to receive, fully funded, a training programme of this calibre. The programme’s complete free-of-charge model — no tuition fees, no prior academic requirements — represents a firm commitment to bridging the constant demand for technology profiles in key digital fields and a quality education that drives specialisation in those areas.
In Spain, Fundación Telefónica runs four 42 campuses: in Madrid, Urduliz (Bizkaia), Barcelona and Málaga. These centres are part of the 42 Network, present in more than 32 countries with over 50 campuses and more than 21,000 students worldwide.
42’s renewed hold on this global leadership position is not only a recognition of its educational model: it is also a validation of Fundación Telefónica’s sustained commitment to educational innovation, employability and the digital future of thousands of young people in Spain and around the world.