Isabel I University and the ADEMA+ Foundation have announced the project to create the University School of Mallorca. The new center, affiliated with Isabel I University, whose application was submitted to the Ministry of Education and Universities on May 20, will offer new bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in strategic, highly sought-after sectors, most of which are currently unavailable on our islands.
The main objective of this initiative is to help stem the drain of young talent from the archipelago, attract new national and international students, and move toward a rebalancing of university offerings across the Balearic Islands. This initiative promotes an academic model with a clear regional focus, oriented toward scientific excellence, and committed to training highly qualified professionals.
The program will include undergraduate degrees in Architecture, Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering, Biomedicine, Medicine, Speech Therapy, Data Engineering, Design, and Sociology, among others, as well as five master’s degrees in these areas.
Social cohesion
The center will have its own locations on the ADEMA campuses in Coll d’en Rabassa and Inca, as well as an online campus, all meeting sustainability and energy efficiency criteria and offering easy access to public transport. In particular, the Inca campus is projected to serve as an academic hub in the center of the island, offering strategic degrees. The educational model will combine in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning, with a student-centered approach, technological innovation, and connection to the productive sector. This campus is also home to the new “Es Crum” University Research Center of Mallorca, dedicated to R&D&I in Architecture, Design, Technology, and Thought.
The Coll d’en Rabassa campus will house the Health Sciences degree programs and the new University Research Center for Medical Sciences of Mallorca. This facility will foster an interdisciplinary research model, promoting collaboration between departments, retaining talent, and transferring knowledge.
This model is based on a non-speculative project that avoids land consumption and focuses on sustainability and efficiency through the reuse and rehabilitation of spaces.
Support from the hospital network and economic and social stakeholders in the Balearic Islands
The initiative has the support of the CAEB-CEOE, PIMEM, Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, the Cercle d’Economia of Mallorca, Cercle Financer of the Balearic Islands, the Balearic Union of Health Entities (UBES), the Red Cross Hospital of Palma, the Sant Joan de Deu Hospital of Palma-Inca, the Parque Levante Hospital, Mutua Balear, Otfalmedic Salvà, ASPAS, Clúster Biotecnològic i Biomèdic de les Illes Balears, and the Association of Builders of the Balearic Islands, among others.
Furthermore, ADEMA has more than 400 companies with active agreements in training, employability, and innovation, and over 30 years of experience implementing official qualifications using an innovative educational methodology at the forefront of new technologies.
Isabel I University: innovation, employability, and academic excellence
Isabel I University is the academic institution affiliated with the project. Founded in 2013, it stands out for its innovative and research-based approach, its digital ecosystem, and its commitment to flexible access to Higher Education. It currently offers 15 bachelor’s degrees, 20 master’s degrees, and several doctoral and postgraduate programs, all accredited by the Quality Agency of the University System of Castilla y León (ACSUCyL) and aligned with the standards of the European Higher Education Area.
The institution currently has more than 6,000 students and more than 50,000 graduates, attracted by its educational offerings and quality. It has been recognized by the Forbes ranking as one of the 25 best universities in Spain and holds first place nationally in entrepreneurship, according to the Santander X Explorer program. Furthermore, it is ranked 23rd out of 76 universities in the U-Multirank ranking and is the second Spanish university in the CYD ranking for “Pedagogically Qualified Teaching Staff,” also standing out in employability and practical training.
In June, Isabel I University reached an agreement with iLERNA, a national leader in vocational training with more than 150,000 graduates (more than 50% in intermediate and higher education courses in the health sector), through which they signed an agreement to facilitate university access for vocational training students.
A model backed by figures
The positive impact of Isabel I University’s academic model is reflected in indicators such as:
- More than 50,000 students graduated with high satisfaction rates.
- Lowest dropout rate among Spanish online universities (21.78%).
- More than 3,000 internship agreements with companies and public entities.
- 94% success rate and 86% academic performance.
- High percentage of students with previous university studies (68.52%) and origins outside of Castilla y León (88%).
- Young and equal workforce: 907 employees, 751 teaching and research staff (PDI) and 156 administrative staff (PAS), with 54.13% women.
The university has internship agreements with Indra, Repsol, BBVA, CaixaBank, Banco Santander, Randstad, the Higher Sports Council, MAPFRE, State Security Forces, and professional associations. It participates in international R&D&I consortia and maintains mobility agreements with universities in Europe and Latin America.
Research: shared strategic axis
Research is a shared pillar of Isabel I University and the ADEMA+ Foundation. Isabel I University has seven Recognized Research Groups (RRGs) with more than 30 active lines of research. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, it launched 20 new internal projects and participated in more than 40 regional, national, and international calls for proposals. Its scientific output reached 714 publications, and it leads rankings in initiatives such as Santander X Explorer 2024.
For its part, the ADEMA+ Foundation has published more than 130 scientific articles in national and international journals over the past five years, promoted three competitive AI and 3D simulation projects in the fields of oral health and nutrition, developed three international patents, and has been awarded the Innovative SME distinction by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Both entities promote an interdisciplinary and international approach to research, with strategic alliances. University I has alliances in Europe and Latin America, BIP programs, and networks such as RED EDEN. This commitment fosters connections between universities, businesses, and society, with a real impact on sustainable development.
Commitment to international education and an international hub
Internationalization is another of the project’s key strategic pillars. Isabel I University maintains a broad network of collaborations with European and Latin American institutions, participates in Erasmus+ and BIP programs, and has signed 26 new agreements in 11 Latin American countries. Its online training model facilitates access to quality content and strengthens its presence in transnational education.
For its part, the ADEMA+ Foundation is committed to opening lines of collaboration and building synergies on the international scene by establishing agreements with leading universities in the health and fine arts sectors, such as Oslo, London, Krakow, New York, Chicago, Princeton, Milan, Turin, Denmark, Brittany, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, and others.
The new University College of Mallorca aspires to become a hub for international research and teaching talent, especially in Health Sciences, Design, and the Arts. The shared commitment is to train professionals capable of generating knowledge from a culturally diverse perspective and addressing contemporary challenges through international collaboration.
An innovative academic model with a social vocation
Furthermore, the new University School of Mallorca will integrate the academic strengths of both institutions with an offering tailored to the Balearic context: academic excellence, an interdisciplinary approach, cutting-edge technology with 3D simulation and applied artificial intelligence, gamification, service-learning projects outside the classroom, and strong connectivity with the business world. Teaching will be organized to cater to diverse profiles, with a practical focus from the first year, a bilingual model, and links to sectors such as Health, Design, and Technology, among others.
More than four million euros in scholarships
Another of the project’s strengths is its scholarship policy: the ADEMA+ Foundation has approved a four million euro investment over ten years to facilitate university access for talented and socially committed students. The grants will cover various percentages of tuition and will be targeted at profiles with strong academic records, low-income students, those with disabilities, federated athletes, or prospective students from vulnerable backgrounds. Agreements will also be signed with local governments and social organizations.
Responsibility and social commitment
The project also includes local and international cooperation initiatives, such as participation in the “Island to Island” project in Kenya, as well as in the Oral Health and Nutritional Habits Observatory, whose health promotion and prevention campaigns in schools across the Balearic Islands have already benefited more than 9,000 students from over 60 educational centers. Likewise, the ADEMA+ Foundation, through its University Clinic, has assistance projects with more than 30 NGOs and 15 local governments to serve patients in vulnerable situations.
Commitment to the 2030 Agenda
The University School of Mallorca is aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Equal Opportunities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), and Partnerships (SDG 17). It is an academic center conceived from and for the Balearic Islands, with an international vocation, an inclusive spirit, and a strong commitment to the human, scientific, and economic development of the community.