This was created following a cooperation agreement signed by several universities in a meeting hosted by the University Internacional de Andalucía (Spain) in 1995. This agreement was made effective on 4th April 1997 in Catamarca (Argentina) under the label Grupo La Rábida.

The objective of the group is the strengthening of academic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation between members, in order to reinforce university links and promote the interaction of Spanish speaking countries.