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 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona launched this programme in 2004 with the aim of reducing early school leaving and bringing students closer to university life, drawing inspiration from experiences developed at other European universities. Between 2004 and 2014, the project was coordinated by the Institute of Education Sciences (Institut de Ciències de l’Educació), and since 2015 the Fundació Autònoma Solidària has been responsible for its organisation and management.