The Autonomous University of Barcelona’s Territorial Dimension in a Metropolitan Context: A Documentary Review of Director Plans and the International Campus of Excellence Project (UAB-CEI)

Abstract

In the current context of global and the knowledge society, the university has intensified his collaboration in the territory and it has obtained a prominent role in the regional development. Currently, the university contributes to internalization of the territory in which it’s settled, since its influences in several socioeconomic reality aspects. Facing this context, the university is part of the society and, as such, has find and encourage new rising areas where relations with ther institutions and organisms are consolidated. New relations that do raise a new university role refer to the direct commitment of the university with its social and economic setting. Facing this new territorial logic, this article shows a critical reflection about territorial dimension of the University Autonomous of Barcelona, through a 2 010-2 012 Director Plan analysis, within the context of the Campus of International Excellence. The aim is demonstrate if the UAB strategy responds to new territorial needs demanded by the new socioeconomic context and if, as a result, the University is considered an integrated territorial node within the metropolitanBarcelona.