The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has been recognized as the best university in Spain in the 2024 ranking of the Knowledge and Development Foundation (CYD). This prestigious recognition underlines the role of the UAB as a reference institution in higher education, not only nationally but also on the international scene.
The CYD Foundation, which evaluates a total of 81 Spanish universities, considers various dimensions such as teaching, learning, research, labor market insertion and international projection. The UAB has excelled in all these areas, achieving first place in this exhaustive analysis covering 30 areas of knowledge and 3,407 degrees throughout Spain.
This is not the first time that UAB has received this recognition. Previously, the university has been highlighted in other prestigious international rankings such as Times Higher Education, QS and the Shanghai Ranking, although not always in the first position.
This continued success reflects UAB’s commitment to academic excellence.
Catalonia: a Hub of higher education
The autonomous community of Catalonia has consolidated its position as a leader in higher education in Spain, with five of its universities ranked among the top ten in the country by the CYD Foundation.
In addition to the UAB, the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Universitat Ramon Llull (URL) have also been highlighted for their academic excellence and their impact on research and knowledge transfer.
Catalonia has proven to be a key region in terms of research, knowledge transfer and international orientation. For example, the UB stands out in research, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) leads in knowledge transfer and both UAB and URL are recognized for their strong international orientation.
The excellence of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
UAB, founded in 1968 and located in Bellaterra, about 20 minutes from Barcelona, has achieved an enviable reputation thanks to its focus on educational quality and research. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, with a strong emphasis on innovation and international mobility.
Among the areas in which UAB stands out is veterinary medicine. It is the only public university in Catalonia that offers this degree and has received accreditation from the European Association of Veterinary Education Institutions (EAEVE).
Impact and economic development
The CYD Foundation promotes the contribution of Spanish universities to the economic and social development of the country. Its board of trustees includes renowned companies such as Iberdrola, Microsoft, IBM, Telefónica, Inditex and Santander. This business endorsement underscores the importance of collaboration between academia and business in fostering innovation and economic growth.
