Moreover, Spanish schools trail behind in the international ranking system; the relatively effective Franco-era vocational training system became collateral damage in the transition; and the low number of patent applications reveals severe shortcomings in research and development. This hindrance to competitiveness is also linked to an underperforming, state-regulated higher-education system, with no Spanish public university among the top 150 ranked in the 2012 Academic Ranking of World Universities, whereas three private institutions (IE, IESE, and ESADE) are all ranked among the top business schools worldwide.
此外，西班牙院校在国际院校排名中也大大落后；相对效率较高的弗朗哥时期职业培训制度成了转型附带伤害的受害者；而专利申请为数甚少的事实表明西班牙在研发方面严重不足。这一竞争力障碍也与绩效低下的国营高等教育制度有关，在2011年世界大学学术排名（Academic Ranking of World Universities）中，没有一家西班牙公立大学进入前150名，而三家私人学府（IE、IESE和ESADE）均在世界商学院排名中名列前茅。