The individuals and institutions behind eUniv shared a common bond: extensive experience in the creation and management of university centers, as well as in the innovation of teaching methodologies and the development of technologies applied to higher education. This background justified the establishment of the Alma Mater University Institute (IUAM) as a strategic institutional decision: it was essential to have an academic center dedicated to promoting research on the university institution from all disciplines within the social sciences. This initiative filled a historical gap across universities in Catalan-speaking and culturally Catalan territories. The Layret Foundation, promoter of eUniv, supports this goal by funding IUAM’s activities.

IUAM Activities

The IUAM Annual Program outlines scientific and academic activities that connect all the institute’s chairs, along with other specialized events organized by each chair. The program includes the following core general activities:

• International Research Forum, held annually, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence as a learning tool in higher education.
• Annual Symposium on Studies of the University Institution, held in July, with a specialized thematic focus determined by the Council, ensuring participation from all IUAM chairs.
• IUAM Annals, which publish research conducted by the chairs as well as contributions from specialists at other scientific institutions. The IUAM Council acts as the editorial board and appoints peer reviewers according to international scientific publishing standards.

Additionally, the IUAM Annual Program includes the following mandatory and specific activities for each chair:

• Doctoral research lines specialized in their scientific field, under the academic cooperation agreement between IUAM and the J. H. Newman Doctoral School of eUniv.
• Annual specialized seminars, involving members of each chair and invited experts from other institutions who contribute to the research.

IUAM Organization

The Institute Council

The Council is the IUAM’s highest academic collegiate body. It is responsible for establishing the institute’s scientific and institutional development guidelines, as well as evaluating and providing reports on the proposed activities and projects submitted by the chairs.

The Institute Chairs

The IUAM Chairs are specialized organizational units focused on specific areas of research. Each chair has a Director, a Secretary, and a Scientific Advisory Committee. The currently established chairs are:

• Chair of the History of Universities, directed by Dr. Joan J. Busqueta
• Chair of the Sociology of Universities, directed by Dr. Jordi Sauret
• Chair of the Economics of Universities, directed by Dr. Agustí Ten

Dean’s Office and General Secretariat

The Dean’s Office is the single-person academic body responsible for coordinating IUAM’s academic activities. The current Dean is Dr. Marc B. Escolà. The General Secretariat is the single-person academic body responsible for managing IUAM’s academic operations. The current Secretary General is Dr. Eladi Llop.