The Alianza 4 Universidades (4 Universities Alliance, A4U) is a strategic partnership between four leading Spanish public universities: the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).
The association grew out of the desire of these four universities, which share the same commitment to quality research and excellence in teaching, to pursue joint projects. In 2008, the A4U was set up as an official alliance. Prior to that date, cooperation between the partner institutions had been governed by a general framework agreement, with specific agreements being arranged for each project.
The A4U’s objectives include promoting the research conducted at the partner universities, primarily in Europe; raising their profiles and enhancing their international reputations by encouraging contacts in countries and areas considered to be strategic priorities; improving mobility options for students, teaching staff and researchers; and promoting quality teaching, with a clear commitment to interuniversity degree programmes and programmes in English.
In recent years A4U, through management of Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility program funds, has enabled students and faculty from partner universities in Russia, South Africa and other sub-Saharan African countries, India, Indonesia, Iran, Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as from A4U universities, to carry out their mobility projects.
