Writing about the foundation of Aseproce is to refer to a trajectory that is approaching 40 years of existence, having spanned a turn of the century, and in which some of those who participated in its creation are no longer with us.
Back then, organizing or promoting courses abroad was an unfamiliar activity, and certainly not as popular, professionalized, nor as competitive as it is today.
Why Aseproce was founded
It was founded for several reasons, although the main ones were: the recognition of the activity itself, the presence and representation before national and foreign official bodies, the fight against unfair competition, even within associations to which some companies in the sector belonged, the widespread intrusion that existed at the time, and, of course, the self-imposed demand for quality among the members.
I believe our first meetings took place in Latitudes, Juventus Travel, Infort, in an office on Guzmán El Bueno Street in Madrid (where we had a secretary who worked three hours, two days a week), and in other places that, so many years later, I can no longer recall.
There were 22 companies that founded Aseproce, according to the constitution act dated December 11, 1987, and these are the ones I remember. However, the first contacts and meetings took place in April 1987, where there were between 12 and 15 representatives who started this project.
I still remember quite clearly those founding colleagues: Luis Arroyo (Latitudes), who was the first president, Maureen Rittener (ACE), Gonzalo Alonso (ASSE), Honorio Domínguez (AngloJet), Iñigo Álvarez-Valdés (Astex), Michael Leinster (Britain Service), María Antonia Ortiz (Canarinfort), Alberto Sempere (Estudio Internacional Sempere), Elisa Rozadilla (Eurostudy), Rafael Pérez de Rueda (Infort), Stephen Cryan (Inlingua), Áurea García (Interlang), David Gardner (International House), Emilio Bordona (Interway), David Butler (La Casa Inglesa), Agustín Aguilera (Linguarama), María Gracia Santiago (Linguatur), Carlos Bautista (Newmarket Studies), Paloma Pazzpati (Orbe Asesores Lingüísticos), John Fitzgibbon (The English Centre), Gerardo Guinea (Vele), and myself, Manuel Urraca (King’s College).
A month after the first Assembly, on January 29, 1988, the following companies joined: Academia Lacunza, Centros Europeos, Hyland, Juventud y Cultura, Language Studies, Top People, Turinter, Escuela Castellana de Lingüística Aplicada, Sas International, Welcome Int. Students Exchange, and Wolse. I sincerely apologize if I’ve forgotten anyone.
Many other companies joined in the months and years that followed, bringing us to the numbers we have today.
One of the first challenges we faced was naming the association. Several alternatives were considered, some of them quite unusual, but finally, and not with the approval of everyone, Aseproce emerged. To future Spanish members, it sounded like a tongue-twister, and to English speakers, it made no sense, but fortunately, it succeeded, and today it is a well-known and respected brand.
I would like to remember all the presidents who have led the association over these nearly forty years and with whom I collaborated in various committees: Luis Arroyo, Gerardo Guinea, Emilio Bordona, Cecilia Raposo, Clodoaldo Casaseca, Juan Manuel Elizalde, and after my retirement, Óscar Porras and the current president, Pablo Martínez de Velasco.
It is also only right to acknowledge the dedication and efforts of the Secretaries General who have worked for the association: Rafael Pérez de Rueda, José Manuel Asín, Leopoldo Roncero, Marta Izuzquiza, Ana María Iglesias, Marta Galea, and the current Secretary, Cristina Rivaya.
I also wish to make a very special mention of the colleagues and members who, sadly, are no longer with us. They will always hold a special and heartfelt place in our memories.
Having said this, I can assure you that few, if any, of us would have imagined that this would last nearly forty years and reach the level of professionalism, experience, solvency, and prestige that the association enjoys today.
As a founding member, though now completely retired from the activity, I feel very proud and honored to have been part of this adventure and to see other colleagues leading it so successfully today.
Manuel Urraca Martínez-Pardo
Former Director of King’s College International
Founding Member of Aseproce
October 21, 2024
