The universAL project, funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER funds, seeks to position UAL as a national and international benchmark in university innovation. The total investment exceeds 8.4 million euros, with over seven million from external funding and 1.4 million contributed by the university itself.
The rector of UAL, José Joaquín Céspedes, emphasized that universAL is not just another funding or technological project, but a strategic commitment aligned with the institution's Strategic Plan, which will shape the university model for years to come.
The Director of Digital Information explained that universAL is an integrated technological platform that will transform the campus into an intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive ecosystem, merging technology, communication, and artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional 'Smart Campuses' that focus primarily on infrastructure, this pilot project places people at its core.
The project is structured around five interconnected areas: Governance (data ethics), Services (intelligent assistance and automation), Living (well-being and educational experience), Environment (energy, water, and climate resilience), and Mobility (accessible and safe mobility). The total integration of these elements will allow data from one module to inform decisions in the others.
A technological platform will be created to integrate academic, administrative, energy, and mobility data, thereby improving management. Virtual assistants powered by generative artificial intelligence will be implemented to handle inquiries and administrative procedures 24/7 in multiple languages. A digital twin of the campus will also be developed to monitor and optimize its functioning, with voluntary user contributions to detect potential academic risks and offer personalized support.
UAL will combine two artificial intelligence models: one for analyzing complex patterns and an explainable AI designed to justify its decisions. "An artificial intelligence that manages university services cannot be a black box; it must be understandable," stated the vice-rector.
UniversAL will also enhance campus sustainability through automated management of energy and water consumption, climate control regulation based on classroom occupancy, and anticipation of extreme weather events. An intelligent system for capturing and managing rainwater will be developed, capable of predicting events like heavy rainfall and activating automatic measures to prevent flooding, with potential applications for other Mediterranean cities.
The project will also include intelligent mobility tools tailored to individual user needs and campus security support robots, which will always operate under human supervision. UAL intends for universAL to serve as a replicable model for other universities and public administrations, with institutions such as the universities of Jaén, Granada, Cádiz, Murcia, Santiago de Compostela, and Oviedo already expressing interest.
The rector summarized the project's spirit as "a giant leap to become more intelligent, more accessible, more sustainable, and above all, more human," stressing that technology is only meaningful if it improves the experience of the entire university community. With this unprecedented investment, universAL aims to leverage artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to enhance campus management, teaching, and quality of life.
