Born from a transformative personal journey and a cross-cultural educational experience at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) the International Academic Program (IAP) came into existence thanks to the interdisciplinary scholarly efforts of Raquel Galindo Dorado from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), with the support of Director Ángel Sáenz-Badillos of the Real Colegio Complutense at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM-RCC) and Merilee Grindle, director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) at Harvard.

In seeking a suitable setting for the program, the Harvard University campus was seen as ideal, providing a harmonious learning environment, inspiring calm and fostering academic excellence.

Fostering relationships between Spanish and Latin American scholars, the IAP has been promoting research and facilitating network creation and professional development.

ASISA, a leader in healthcare assistance in Spain, became the main sponsor of the IAP. Under the leadership of its president, Dr. Francisco Ivorra Miralles, ASISA's support has been crucial for the development and the consolidation of the program over the years.

Since 2012, the (UAM) has funded a travel grant program, which complements an IAP scholarship to cover the registration fee to attending any of the symposia. This initiative, while initially exclusive to students from the Faculty of Medicine, has progressively expanded to include all faculties and schools of UAM.

The State of Massachusetts granted the International Academic Program (IAP) an NGO status under Section 501(c)(3) to foster and promote intellectual and scientific exchange between academic, public, and private institutions.

The Academic Council was established under the leadership of the then President of the (UAM) Jose Maria Sanz, consisting of Harvard University faculty members, with the aim to supervise and ensure the quality, sustainability, and proper development of the program.

The Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact has distinguished the IAP as Best Practice, highlighting its strategic alliance with MetaRed by Universia to strengthen academic networks between universities in Latin America, Spain and the United States.
This achievement reinforces the IAP’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Moreover, it aligns with the vision of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), as reflected in their 2022 Skills Studies report, which promotes the exchange of best practices and the creation of university networks.