One of the goals of the 4 Universities Alliance (A4U) - formed by Pompeu Fabra University, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Carlos III University and the Autonomous University of Madrid - is to showcase the research and teaching activity of the institutions in the Alliance on the international stage. Along these lines, India represents a strategic area when it comes to the internationalisation of Spanish universities on account of the excellence of its teaching and scientific institutions with which the A4U wishes to forge new synergies, engaging in a commitment to high quality training and research in a globalised setting.

Today, cooperation agreements with some of the foremost Indian institutions were signed at the headquarters of the Cervantes Institute in New Delhi. The event was attended by the rectors of the universities comprising the A4U, Josep Joan Moreso (UPF), Ana Ripoll (UAB), José M. Sanz (UAM) and Daniel Peña (UC3M) and by the representatives of the Indian institutions involved. Also present were Spain's ambassador to India, Ion de la Riva; the Embassy's economic and trade office advisor, Teresa Solbes; and the director of the Cervantes Institute in New Delhi, Óscar Pujol.

The agreements signed today in New Delhi will lay the foundations for academic and scientific cooperation between the universities in the A4U and their Indian partners. Seven agreements were signed with the following Indian institutions (with the academic and scientific areas covered by the exchange agreements shown in brackets): the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (biosciences, engineering and technology); the International Institute of Information Technology in Bangalore (engineering); the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (economics, management and business management and international trade); the Birla Institute of Management Technology (economics); the Consortium of National Institutes of Technology of India (Co-NIT - engineering, economics); the Jaypee Education System (biosciences, engineering and economics); and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore (economics, management and business management).

Work is also underway to reach an agreement with the University of Delhi (for Hispanic philosophy, economics and humanities) and the Indian Institute of Technology (engineering, technology and biotechnology).

These agreements will enable Spanish students to supplement their training at Indian universities and vice versa. They will also foster the mobility of lecturers and will encourage cooperation on research projects between specialists from both countries.

Students will be able to undertake exchanges with India for periods ranging from six months to one year. The various agreements will enable the exchange of both bachelor's degree and postgraduate students.

In addition, the A4U delegation will pay visits to the universities and research centres in New Delhi and Greater Noida with which agreements will be reached. During the visit the academic courses offered by the A4U will be presented to the Indian students.

The A4U is also a strategic partnership with the CEI UPF - Icària project.