Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP)

Presentation

The Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP) was created in 2002 on an initiative of the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Universitat de Girona (UdG), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). The ACUP’s main purpose is to be the principal voice of the universities of Catalonia and combine efforts to promote initiatives, programmes and joint projects with the aim of improving the university system and ensuring that it spearheads social, cultural and economic development. 

Mission

The preamble of the ACUP Statute reads: “Autonomy, Catalan identity and modernity were the three recurring themes of the Catalan University Congresses held between 1903 and 1918. These intellectual ideals and aspirations cannot be considered exhausted, they are the driving force behind the public universities’ desire to work together. This autonomy to work and be responsible is leading universities to come together to develop joint strategies, for the good of Catalonia. Supplied with a deep knowledge of university history in Catalonia, and recalling the words of Tirant lo Blanc [one of the best known medieval works of Catalan literature, XV century] “he who forgets the past, forgets himself”, the universities are looking to work for the future. The fact that public universities created an association is an indication of their willingness to work together with one voice in all matters where unanimity is possible. Moreover, a partnership between the universities and the Administration will help to further the cultural progress of Catalonia.