The Institute of North American Studies (IEN) was founded in 1951 as a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the cultural exchange between Catalonia, Spain and the United States of America. Our main activities are English language teaching and the promotion of cultural awareness through art exhibitions, seminars, conferences, musical performances, and the establishment of Spain's first and largest American library. The IEN has also dedicated its efforts to the successful creation of both a Teacher Training Department (accredited by Trinity College London and the Catalan "Generalitat" government) and a Spanish Department (credits awarded by some U.S. Study Abroad Programs) in order to further bridge these two countries.

With over 58 years of experience, the IEN is considered at the forefront of language teaching with a highly qualified teaching staff that promotes a communicative approach to language teaching. The IEN offers a wide variety of schedules to its students, whether they be in the English Adult Program (course credits awarded by Catalan universities), English Junior/Teen Program, English Professional Program, English Challenge Multi-media Center, Teacher Training Program or Spanish Program.

The IEN is a member of Education USA as well as an official center for TOEFL, GRE, USMLE and other well-known exams required to study in the U.S. or Britain.

In 2006 the IEN became a private foundation with the following members:
- Board of Directors: Robert Manson (president), Juan Carlos Arranz, Josep Mª Bosch, Josep Lluís Bonet, Ramon Casals, Juan Francisco Corona, Lluís Foix, Pasqual Maragall, Andreu Mas-Colell, Juan Enrique Maza, Pere Mateu, Àngel Monell, Ramon Mullerat, Antoni Noguero, Jordi Pujol, Francesc Rubiralta, Antoni Serra and Jordi Setoain.
- The Executive Committee: Robert Manson (president), Juan Carlos Arranz, Juan Francisco Corona, Carles Domingo, Àngel Monell, Ramon Mullerat, Antoni Noguero, Jordi Setoain and Greggory D. Crouch.