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Scientific excellence of the A4U: with 6% of the teaching and research staff, A4U contributes more than 17% of the publications and receives more than 23% of the citations, according to the IUNE Report.

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The report on the scientific activity of the universities of the 4U Alliance has been prepared using data from the IUNE 2025 Observatory, which corresponds to the period of scientific activity 2014-2023.

Read more: Scientific excellence of the A4U: with 6% of the teaching and research staff, A4U contributes more than 17% of the publications and receives more than 23% of the citations, according to the IUNE Report.

We highlight the following conclusions:

  • Regarding WOS publications (Main collection), A4U makes a large contribution to the Spanish University System (SUE) in all indicators; for example, with 6% of the faculty it contributes 17.39% of SUE publications and receives 23.59% of citations.
  • A4U’s international collaboration is high and growing. In 2023, 59.76% of its publications are in international collaboration (compared to 54.89% of SUE).
  • In relation to compliance with open access policies, the AU4 presents a very high level (74.61%) and a growing trend.
  • In terms of attracting funding per permanent teaching and research staff, the A4U is highly competitive, with its universities ranking among the top universities in the SUE in both the Spanish R&i Funding Program and in H2020.

The IUNE Observatory is a good source of information for analyzing the scientific activity of Spanish universities. In the case of the A4U universities, it provides precise information on the characteristics of the research activity of the Spanish universities.

A4U Strengthens Its Presence in Asia Through Its Institutional Mission to India During the APAIE 2025 Conference

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Internationalization continues to be one of the fundamental strategic pillars of the Alliance 4 Universities (A4U). In line with its commitment to strengthening its global outreach, A4U carried out an institutional mission to India to coincide with the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE 2025) conference, held in New Delhi.

This mission, framed within A4U’s joint internationalization strategy, had as its main objective the strengthening and deepening of already established relationships with strategic partners in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In addition, it aimed to expand A4U’s network of collaboration with key institutions in the region, such as the Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain in India.

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The UAM hosts the conference ‘The Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028 and its implications for Spanish universities’ organised by the A4U.

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On 1 April, the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) hosted the conference ‘The Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028 and its implications for Spanish universities’ organised by the Alliance 4 Universities, a key event to analyse the impact of international mobility and research. At this event, institutional representatives, academics and experts discussed the challenges and opportunities posed by this strategic framework for university cooperation.

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A4U Annual Assembly: 2024 report and 2025 Action plan approved

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On 11 March, the General Assembly of the A4U was held at the UPF Barcelona, chaired by the Rector of the UPF, Dr Laia de Nadal, and with the Rector of the UAM (Amaya Mendikoetxea Pelayo), the Rector of the UAB (Javier Lafuente Sancho) and the Rector of the UC3M (Ángel Arias). Also in attendance were the Heads of Cabinet, Vice-Rectors for Teaching, Internationalisation, Research and Transfer/Innovation.

Read more: A4U Annual Assembly: 2024 report and 2025 Action plan approved

During the assembly, the results of the 3 joint A4U degrees, the results of the mobilities and international missions and the results of the OPERA activity and participation in Horizon Europe were presented.

Regarding the results of the 3 joint degrees of the A4U, we continue with good results of demand, especially highlighting the Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, with cut-off marks above 12 (out of 14) and the ratio of supply vs. demand above 300%.

In the field of internationalisation, the A4U’s capacity to attract funds from the Erasmus+ programme was highlighted, obtaining more than 2 million euros to date, which has facilitated the mobility of more than 600 people to and from more than 15 countries outside the EU. The Mission to South Africa was also highlighted, where relations with strategic partners were strengthened and the First Spanish-South African Universities Symposium, entitled ‘Global Health at a Crossroad’, was held.

In addition, some preliminary results of the IUNE Report for the Alliance were presented. From this report we highlight that the teaching and research staff of the A4U universities (representing 6% of the Spanish University System – SUE) publish 17% of the total scientific publications of the SUE and receive 24% of the citations (Wos Indicators (Core Collection) – 2014 – 2023). In addition, our universities occupy the top positions in Spain in the indicator for attracting resources per teaching and research staff, both in the Spanish R&i Plan and in H2020. The full report will be published soon.

From OPERA’s report, the very positive results of participation in Horizon Europe were highlighted, with special emphasis on Pillars 1 and 2. During this 2024, the universities of the Alliance have raised 72 million euros in 143 projects of Horizon Europe.

Also the different visits to Brussels, as well as the meetings with different personalities of the moment. Finally, the Activity Plan 2025 and the budget were presented and approved.

Before the Assembly, the Vice-Rectors for Research and Innovation presented their strategies to the counterpart Vice-Rectors, in order to share good practices, ideas and look for synergies. Then, OPERA’s Director (Ignasi Salvado Estivill) explained them the current geopolitical situation (vision from Brussels), explaining the possible impacts for the universities of the EU Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and The Union of Skills. He also presented in detail the Business Plan 2025 and the associated budget.

OPERA is theA4U’s Office for the Promotion of the European Research Activities, based in Brussels since 2009.

UAM hosts a seminar on climate change

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During the works of the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 on Climate Change (Dubai 2023), it was recognized that culture, from arts to heritage, has a fundamental role to play in helping people to imagine and to realize low carbon, just, climate resilient futures and that culture has unparalleled capacity for enabling a powerfully inclusive response to create the systemic change needed to tackle the climate crisis.

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The A-4U strengthens collaboration ties with the Cervantes Institute

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Last January, the A-4U signed a new framework agreement with the Cervantes Institute to express the will of both signees to collaborate in the creation of joint actions to develop and strenghten the learning of Spanish as a foreign language and the internationalization of Spanish higher education.

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Science Diplomacy Seminar: Research Collaborations between the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Alliance of 4 Universities

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On the 18th of December 2023, the A-4U organized a Science Diplomacy event to promote collaboration initiatives between the National Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the A-4U universities, as well as to present the A-4U to researchers and students from all Greek universities.

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Institutional Mission to Kenya

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From the 23rd of October to the 1st of November, a 4 Universities Alliance (A-4U) delegation carried out an institutional mission to Kenya.

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The Alliance of 4 Universities (A-4U) and the Cervantes Institute organize a seminar of Spanish Language and Culture in Kenya

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The Alliance of 4 Universities (A-4U) and the Cervantes Institute organize a seminar of Spanish Language and Culture in Kenya

Within its strategic framework for internationalization, the Alliance of 4 Universities has organized from the 23 to the 25 of October 2023 a seminar about Spanish language and culture in Kenia together with the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish Embassy in Kenya and the United States International University-Africa.

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More Erasmus+ funds for academic mobility with non-European countries

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Alianza 4 Universidades (A4U) has secured 367,710 Euros of Erasmus+ funding in 2022. These funds will help continue student and staff exchange between 4 member universities of A4U (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona) and 53 partner universities in 13 countries: Russia, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam, Botswana, Kenia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Namibia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.

Since 2015 A4U was awarded a total of nearly 2 million Euros of Erasmus+ funding, which enabled the exchange of almost 500 staff and students from A4U and its partner universities, with almost 90 more being planned for 2023-2024 academic year. 

As a result of the exchange, students improve their language and intercultural skills, increase their confidence and gain international experience that counts towards their qualification. A research stay abroad can help doctoral students jumpstart their career. 

Elizaveta Cherepovskaia is a Linguistics student of the Southern Federal University in Russia who visited the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona in 2021. She relates: “Erasmus+ academic stay helped me greatly in all aspects of life. It enhanced my studies. I had never experienced how it feels to be an international student, cooperate with people from different countries, solve daily-life issues abroad speaking only foreign languages. Erasmus+ stay was the best period of my life that changed my mindset radically. I would certainly recommend others to consider going on Erasmus+ exchange.”

Staff also benefit from exchange as they learn and share best practice and have a chance to have a first-hand experience of a different educational system.

Dr Marcos Rodriguez Millan from the Polytechnic school of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid visited the Indian Institute of Technology of Delhi in India in 2019. He says: “The stay allowed me to learn about other research and teaching methodologies. I was able to share teachings with students from different countries close to India. It allowed me to establish new links with the researchers of the university.  I was able to produce a joint research paper and I am still in contact with them. The researchers showed me a portion of their culture in addition to their methodologies and potential synergies, which was personally very enriching.”

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are welcome to take part in the programme and may receive top-up grants.

Through participation in Erasmus+ programme, universities have opportunities to forge cooperation in teaching and research, attract talent and increase the number of international students and staff, which in turn contributes to their diversity and internationalisation.

A compilation of stories from previous Erasmus+ participants can be consulted here.


The Alianza 4 Universidades (A4U) project has been funded by Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. This publication reflects the views of only A4U. Erasmus+ programme or the Spanish National Agency for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE) cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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