Introduction and Origins

Campus Ítaca: Introductions and Origins

Campus Ítaca is a socio-educational initiative from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), designed for secondary school students. The programme consists of two separate seven-day sessions held on the university campus during June and July. Throughout their stay, students participate in a range of academic and leisure activities aimed at motivating them to pursue studies beyond compulsory education.

The programme was launched in 2004 by Lluís Ferrer i Caubet, then Rector of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, with inspiration from the University of Strathclyde’s Summer Academy in Scotland. His goal was to create a similar initiative that would help reduce early school-leaving and strengthen young students’ connection with the university environment. The programme was managed by the Institute of Education Sciences from its launch until 2014. In 2015, administration and oversight were transferred to the Fundació Autònoma Solidària.