Universitat de Barcelona

The University of Barcelona’s Institute of Education Sciences (ICE) was founded in 1969. The decree to create the Institution states that this entity shall aid the academic and cultural training of individuals who undertake educational tasks. This shall be achieved through encouragement, constant guidance, and an analysis of the work of the university, in order to perfect and improve its performance.

The Parliament of Catalonia Act 26/19 December 1984 stated that Catalan universities must run special centres to undertake advanced training of teaching staff at all levels of the education system, as well as educational research, innovation and change. The University of Barcelona Statute establishes that the training of university teaching staff for academic tasks will be undertaken through the Institute of Education Sciences. The ICE works in various formal and non-formal education and training environments.

The ICE can work in conjunction with university faculties and schools, departments, university research institutes and other UB units. In addition, its activities can be carried out in collaboration with other institutions, administrations and public or private organisations through collaboration agreements.

The ICE is divided into sections that undertake tasks such as the following:

• Analyse the training needs of teaching staff and design proposals for appropriate activities.
• Promote and foster educational innovation.
• Provide guidance and advice on research, and promote it, in all of the Institute’s areas of activity.
• Coordinate the research activities that are undertaken in the Institute.
• The Institute also works in consultancy, publishes materials, disseminates good practices and draws up training materials in different media.