Quick Summary
- 1The Madrid region has inaugurated the Alma Mater Higher Education Center, a new university campus in Torrejón de Ardoz promoted as UCAM-COE.
- 2The project is a collaboration between the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and the Comité Olímpico Español (Spanish Olympic Committee).
- 3The campus marks the conclusion of a 13-year search for a location, having previously considered sites in Alicante, León, Málaga, and Alcorcón.
- 4Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso facilitated the process by suggesting an affiliated center model to bypass lengthy bureaucratic procedures for establishing a full university.
Quick Summary
The Madrid region has officially inaugurated the Alma Mater Higher Education Center, a new private university campus located in Torrejón de Ardoz. The institution is a joint venture between the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and the Comité Olímpico Español (COE), often referred to as UCAM-COE.
This inauguration concludes a 13-year search for a suitable location, with previous attempts in cities such as Alicante, León, Málaga, and Alcorcón failing to materialize. The project was realized through a specific administrative shortcut introduced by the regional government, allowing for the creation of campus adscritos (affiliated campuses) attached to existing universities rather than establishing entirely new institutions.
Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso played a direct role in the final arrangement, proposing the affiliated center model to expedite the process. The campus is set to open its doors to students starting in September of this year.
A Decade-Long Search Concludes
The establishment of the Alma Mater campus ends a prolonged period of uncertainty regarding the physical location of the joint project between the Catholic University of Murcia and the Olympic Committee. For 13 years, the initiative struggled to find a foothold in the Spanish university landscape, facing rejection or stagnation in four distinct municipalities.
Previous attempts to launch the university project were centered in the following locations:
- Alicante
- León
- Málaga
- Alcorcón
Despite these efforts, no agreement was reached in those cities, prompting a shift in strategy toward the Madrid region. The final decision to settle in Torrejón de Ardoz represents a strategic pivot to a location with favorable administrative conditions.
"Abrimos Madrid a todo proyecto de universidad, de todos los rincones de España, del mundo y especialmente de Hispanoamérica, siempre que cumplan los requisitos de calidad y excelencia."— Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region
The 'Affiliated Center' Solution 🏫
The Madrid regional government has implemented a specific administrative mechanism to accelerate the growth of private higher education in the territory. This shortcut allows new institutions to open as campus adscritos (affiliated campuses) linked to universities that already possess official accreditation and status.
This approach bypasses the extensive paperwork and long timelines typically required to inaugurate a completely new university. Currently, the region hosts 14 private universities, with an additional three currently in the process of being established. This stands in contrast to the six public universities operating in the region.
According to reports regarding the negotiations, the regional president suggested this specific model to the founders to resolve the bureaucratic impasse. The proposal was framed as a way to move forward without the delays inherent in the standard university creation process.
Key Stakeholders and Strategic Vision
The new campus brings together two distinct entities: the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and the Comité Olímpico Español (COE). UCAM is known for its association with the neocatecumenal movement, a religious community often referred to as 'the kikos.' The collaboration aims to merge academic education with sports excellence.
President Isabel Díaz Ayuso has articulated a clear vision for the expansion of higher education in Madrid. In a statement regarding the region's openness to educational projects, she emphasized the commitment to quality and excellence.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region:
"Abrimos Madrid a todo proyecto de universidad, de todos los rincones de España, del mundo y especialmente de Hispanoamérica, siempre que cumplan los requisitos de calidad y excelencia."
The inauguration of the UCAM-COE campus aligns with this broader strategy of attracting international and specialized educational projects to the Spanish capital, specifically targeting institutions with ties to Hispanoamérica.
Future Outlook and Operations
With the inauguration complete, the Alma Mater center is preparing for the start of the academic year. Official classes are scheduled to begin in September, marking the operational launch of the facility.
The establishment of this campus serves as a case study for the Madrid regional government's approach to educational development. By utilizing the affiliated campus model, the administration aims to maintain a dynamic and growing private university sector while ensuring that new entrants meet established quality standards.
The project now moves from the planning and negotiation phase into active recruitment and educational delivery, with the hope of establishing a permanent presence in the Madrid university ecosystem after more than a decade of unsuccessful attempts elsewhere.
"Podemos hacer una universidad, pero el plazo es muy largo. ¿Estamos de acuerdo con un centro adscrito?"— Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region
Frequently Asked Questions
The new campus is called Alma Mater, promoted as UCAM-COE. It is a joint project between the Catholic University of Murcia and the Spanish Olympic Committee, located in Torrejón de Ardoz.
The government utilized a mechanism allowing 'affiliated campuses' (campus adscritos) to be attached to existing universities, bypassing the lengthy bureaucracy required to establish a completely new university.
The campus has been inaugurated, and classes are scheduled to begin in September.
