AUCA is a non-profit organization comprising professionals who represent international higher education institutions in China. The full name of AUCA is American Universities in China Association. The Chinese name of AUCA has been slightly altered to reflect the fact that an increasing number of non-American universities and their official delegates are becoming members of the AUCA community.

Since its founding in 2014 by three representatives of U.S. universities based in China, AUCA has attracted more than 150 representatives from overseas colleges and universities. At present, AUCA has nearly 100 members, who are official representatives from more than 60 institutions around the world. These institutions are located in the United States, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Australia and many other countries.

The purposes of the association are exclusively educational, not for profit, and are to promote educational, academic, and cultural exchanges and understandings between international higher education institutions and Chinese students, families and institutions; and assist in the development of professional competence and expertise of individuals involved in the above-mentioned endeavor.