SPACE was founded in Lille, France, in 1989. It has the status of a non-profit international association according to Belgian law, its Head Office is located at Hogeschool Gent (University College Gent) in Gent BE, and its aims and objectives are laid down in its Constitution.

Since 1989, the network has been growing to reach a membership of more than 80 HEI in 30 countries from both the 'old' and emerging new Europe resulting in a modified profile of the SPACE Network and a strong Mission Statement. SPACE is also committed to building bridges with the business community in order to enable SPACE members to provide to their students an effective and industry-relevant education. Many cooperation initiatives contribute to bridging the gap that currently exists between schools and enterprises. Read more at Links with Business Community

The remit of the SPACE Network has widened to develop European and international co-operation in the areas of Business Studies, Languages, Hotel & Tourism Management, European Studies and Intercultural Communication.

One key objective of SPACE is to share staff educational experiences in order to meet the needs of students who now have to have an awareness of how to do business in a global environment. Therefore developing a spirit for quality and a sense for research have become main objectives.

Presently, the network offers the opportunity for members to develop joint degrees, to share online exams and courses. SPACE has also developed a number of co-operations in European funded projects and provides a framework of support. Not only staff and student exchanges and work placement initiatives for students are at the heart of SPACE activity, also virtual mobility is part of it. Finally SPACE offers a free platform for a strongly managed intra-net communication between member schools.

We are confident that each new member will find that the SPACE network offers a forum for the exchange of ideas and research, opportunities for shared programmes, examinations and projects and a friendly professional atmosphere in which to network. The agreements of cooperation that SPACE concluded with other networks add a new dimension for "networking between networks".

Universities and HEI from outside Europe are also welcome to this "Learning by Sharing" experience for a multicultural understanding is a requirement to succeed in the future.