Suffolk University Acting President and Provost Barry Brown joined with Jorge Morán, president and chief executive officer of Sovereign Bank and Santander U.S. country head, to announce a partnership that will award annual scholarships for international study beginning in the spring of 2012.

Sovereign, a subsidiary of Banco Santander, will collaborate with the University to award 10 scholarships yearly to students here and abroad. Ten percent of the scholarships will be awarded to low-to-moderate income students.

“Through its Santander Universities program, Sovereign Bank is opening doors across the globe for our students,” said Brown. “We are extremely grateful to Sovereign for the confidence that its gift demonstrates in this University and the impact these scholarships will have in expanding the educational horizons of our students.”

The initiative is made possible by Santander Universities, a corporate social responsibility program created by Banco Santander to advance the bank’s goal of expanding knowledge and experience globally.

More than 950 colleges and universities in 15 countries receive support through Santander Universities. In 2011, Sovereign will fund 775 scholarships and dozens of special academic programs at 23 colleges and universities in the United States.

“We believe that the best investment for the future of society is in higher education,” said Morán. “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to support Suffolk University’s commitment to bring an international perspective to tomorrow’s leaders.”