Rafael Araque Padilla

Rafael Araque Padilla is a Full Professor in the Department of Business Management at the University of Córdoba's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. He serves as Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Inclusive and Sustainable Development and leads the Marketing for Society research group. His career spans academic, research, and international development roles, with significant contributions to understanding marketing systems in contexts of social challenge and sustainable development.

Professor Araque Padilla's research focuses on three interconnected domains: food system marketing (particularly children's nutrition and food literacy in disadvantaged communities), macromarketing approaches to sustainable development (including refugee integration and inclusive business models), and marketing ethics with corporate social responsibility. His work uniquely bridges theoretical marketing frameworks with practical applications in international development contexts across Spain, Central America, and the Middle East.

His recent publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly interdisciplinary work that connects marketing theory with pressing global challenges. The 15 most recent articles demonstrate growing emphasis on sustainable development goals, food system challenges, and the role of marketing in contexts of migration and social inclusion. His research increasingly employs mixed-methods approaches, combining content analysis of media and packaging with quantitative studies of consumer behavior and qualitative fieldwork in development contexts.

As a supervisor and educator, Professor Araque Padilla has guided numerous doctoral students through eight years of structured research training activities. His international development projects, funded by Spanish and Andalusian agencies, demonstrate strong grant acquisition capabilities with recent projects totaling over €1 million in funding across multiple countries.

His research group, Marketing for Society, functions as an interdisciplinary hub connecting marketing theory with practical social challenges, particularly through ongoing projects in Honduras, Paraguay, and Lebanon that address food security, gender equity, and sustainable development through marketing approaches.