Catalan Association of Public Universities

The Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP; in Catalan, Associació Catalana d'Universitats Públiques) is a non-profit membership organization that brings together the public universities of Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 2002 by several Catalan public universities with the aim of promoting joint initiatives, programmes and projects to improve the Catalan university system. The association is headquartered in Cerdanyola del Vallès, a municipality in the Barcelona metropolitan area that is also home to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. ACUP's membership comprises the eight public universities of Catalonia: the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), the Universitat de Girona (UdG), the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Through this collective platform, the member institutions coordinate on matters of common interest, share good practice, and speak with a unified voice on higher education and research policy affecting the Catalan university system. The association's leadership is drawn from the rectors of its member universities. Since January 2023, its president has been Daniel Crespo, rector of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The presidency rotates among the member institutions, reflecting the collaborative and non-hierarchical character of the organization. ACUP operates as a coordinating and advocacy body rather than a degree-granting institution. Its work focuses on joint projects, quality assurance, internationalization, research policy, and the relationship between universities and society. It serves as a point of contact between the Catalan public university system and regional and national authorities, as well as international networks and partners. As a membership association of public universities, ACUP is not a commercial enterprise in the conventional sense, but it functions as an institutional brand representing the collective interests of Catalonia's public higher education sector. Its activities are funded through contributions from member universities and through project-based support.

The Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP) was created in 2002 by several Catalan public universities. Its founding purpose was to promote joint initiatives, programmes and projects aimed at improving the Catalan university system. The association emerged from a recognition among the public universities of Catalonia that cooperation on common challenges — such as quality assurance, research policy, internationalization and relations with public authorities — could be more effective when pursued collectively rather than individually. From its establishment, ACUP has grouped the public universities of Catalonia. Its membership includes the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), the Universitat de Girona (UdG), the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). The association is headquartered in Cerdanyola del Vallès, in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Leadership of ACUP is exercised through its presidency, which is held by a rector of one of the member universities. Since January 2023, the president has been Daniel Crespo, rector of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The presidency rotates among the member institutions, reflecting the association's collaborative structure. Over the years, ACUP has served as a platform for joint action and as an interlocutor with regional and national authorities on higher education and research policy. It has also engaged with international networks and partners, representing the Catalan public university system abroad. Its work is funded through contributions from member universities and through project-based support. As of the available evidence, the association remains active and continues to pursue its mission of strengthening the Catalan university system through cooperation among its member institutions.

• 2023

  Daniel Crespo, rector of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), becomes president of ACUP in January.

• 2002

  ACUP is created by several Catalan public universities to promote joint initiatives and improve the Catalan university system.

A collaborative membership association representing and coordinating the public universities of Catalonia.

Product categories. Joint university initiatives and programmes · Higher education policy coordination · Research and internationalization projects

1. 1ACUP official websiteacup.cat
2. 2Catalan Association of Public Universities - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Associació Catalana d'Universitats Públiques - Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org