The University of Malaga (UMA) is one of Spain’s premiere institutions of higher learning (world ranking: 344) [2014]. Since its foundation back in 1972, UMA has rapidly expanded its international presence and prestige. Currently, UMA has 2 campuses (1.797.247 m2), +35.000 students, +2.400 professors, 23 faculties and schools, 82 departments, 200 educational programmes (incl. 59 undergraduate, 53 master and 34 Ph.D.), 200 Ph.D. thesis/year, 278 research groups, research projects (400 national/125 EU [2007-2014]), and +1.800 business contacts.

Regarding international relations, UMA has bilateral agreements with +550 universities from all over the world (Europe, Iberoamerica, North Africa, Asia, USA/Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, etc.) with +1.000/+1.000 exchange students (in/out)/year and +100/+100 exchange researchers (in/out)/year. UMA participates actively in a number on international programmes (LLP, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Erasmus+, ISEP, Fulbright, AUIP, etc.), national/regional programmes (Spanish Ministry of Education, Regional Gov, Talentia, ICEX, etc.), and privately-funded programmes (Santander, Universia, Caixa, Caja Madrid, etc.), all of them managed by the Unit of International Affairs & Cooperation (UIAC). UMA is member of +100 networks/associations. Assistance is provided in the following languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Greek and Korean.

UMA stimulates educational innovation and research by boosting the quality of its professors and research groups through their participation in international research projects-managed by OTRI (Research Result Transferenece Office) – with the support and sponsorship of enterprises from local Technopark (PTA). The university has a dedicated career center which fosters the employability of students and young researchers by offering a wide services portfolio including academic/professional counseling, paid internships/fellowships, etc. UMA meets the following quality standards: EFQM 200, EFQM 300, ISO 9001, ISO14001, etc.
UMA is also part of the International Campus of Excellence (ICE) Andalucía TECH.

Since 1999, University of Malaga counts with a spin-off programme. Its objective is to help the transformation of business ideas from students and graduates in business realities, contributing to the socio-economic development of their surroundings and favouring the creation of employment and wealth in the region. The selected projects have one year of stay in the UMA business incubator located in the Andalusian Technology Park. Along this period, entrepreneurs receive technical assistance for the elaboration of the business plan and other support about legal and administrative requirements, commerce, promotion activities, finding partners, etc. Since the beginning of the programme, 569 spin-off ideas have been applied. Results of his program are a total of 106 projects supported by the University of Malaga and 85 startup companies. University of Malaga is partner of the Provincial Investment Office “Invest in Malaga”, which aim is to promote the province as an excellent place to start new businesses, offering entrepreneurs and investors the necessary support to set up new economic activities. This is intended mainly to position Malaga as a strategic area for business investment.

Besides, ICE Andalucía TECH is developing its strategic plan where entrepreneurship is a key line. In this topic a new centre called Link has been created. It’s placed in a building (The Green Ray) that belongs to the Technology Park of Andalusia. This space integrates all the processes linked to the promotion of the entrepreneur culture and the creation of new companies, including teaching in these matters, incubation of new projects, consultancy, coworking and networking.