SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Today, Tuesday, the Faculty of the University of La Laguna learned of the preliminary draft budget of the academic institution for 2024, valued at 171,950,000 euros, an amount “clearly” insufficient to cover the needs of the University, as concluded by all cloister groups that participated in the session.
“It is not the budget we would have liked and we are still in a situation of uncertainty and risk,” declared the manager, Teresa Covisa, at the beginning of her speech. However, he pointed out that a fair budget must be demanded, but the available resources must also be optimized: “Our general objective in the execution bases of this document focuses on the development of a modernization plan, for which soon a participatory process”.
The manager advanced some internal changes to improve the functioning of this institution, giving as an example the greater streamlining of the processing of minor contracts or the non-obligation in the first instance of registration of third parties by suppliers.
He pointed out that the University has to face, for example, the increase in the CPI, the increase in the remuneration levels of teachers or the payment of Social Security to students in internships. He indicated that additionally a request has been made for financing the Social Security of public officials.
Covisa explained that initially the income and expense forecast document amounted to 177,340,000 euros, contemplating an increase of 6.6% compared to the previous year, but this amount had to be drastically corrected upon learning of the company’s draft budget. autonomous community in this same month.
Furthermore, he added, there have been a series of external conditions that have influenced this document. Among them he cited political instability, the reactivation of fiscal rules (restriction of the use of treasury remnants), lack of dialogue between the Government of the Canary Islands and the Ministry of Universities about the LOSU and preliminary information from the Department of Universities of the Regional government with estimates that are in some cases erroneous.
Given this scenario, he indicated that it has been necessary to go from the 177 million initially planned to 171,950,000 euros, “without leaving behind the demands already mentioned.” It has therefore been necessary to reduce expenses in centers and departments by 5%, 25% in Management and 15% in participatory budgets. “We hope that these adjustments are reversible, at least partially,” said the manager, adding that “it has never been so important to have a permanent, accurate budget, and not create a document blindly, as we have done,” she added.
Therefore, the 2024 budget has been made in a context of sustained inflation and a lack of a program contract. Thus, the 171,950,000 euros represent an increase of 3.36% over that of 2023. “We intended an increase of 11 million, they gave us 4.9 and we are missing 6.1 to meet our structural financing,” Covisa summarized. An attempt has been made to preserve the training of teaching and research staff, solidarity action and the prevention of occupational risks, in addition to the salaries of public employees, which are guaranteed, the manager noted.
CLAUSTRAL PARTICIPATION
After the manager’s intervention, it was the turn of the cloister groups to speak. The AEULL student group pointed out that the budget does not reflect the demographic challenge of the university in the face of the massive retirement of many teachers, which is why it urged a fair budget that takes into account all needs.
For its part, the PAS Group indicated its support for the two rectors in the defense of better financing to carry out the entrusted public service, although it noted that the lack of financing is falling on the weakest sectors of the institution, especially in the teaching staff and contracted service personnel. He also referred to the delay in calls for the provision of university services.
Student Freedom, for its part, joined the support of the university when demanding what corresponds to it, although it stated that it does not share some protest attitudes.
University Participation Network, from the teaching sector, pointed out that it is evident that public financing of Canarian universities is deficient. The prohibition on the use of treasury remnants confronts the university with a very restrictive scenario, stated its spokesperson. In the opinion of this group, the budget reduction for centers and departments is not worth it, since it is a smaller and non-linear amount. On the other hand, he pointed out a possible overestimation in his opinion in the collection forecasts of some chapters.
Canarian Student Assembly accused the Government of the Canary Islands of ignoring the needs of public universities, “whose tiny increase is not even enough to meet the requirements set by the LOSU,” he declared. “The regional government has put the stability of universities at risk and eliminated their basic pillars to carry out higher education,” he said.
The spokesperson for Nexo, from the student sector, described the Canary Islands universities as a “critical situation”, “on the verge of imminent technical bankruptcy”. He pointed out that the technical study prepared by the previous ministry about the needs of the universities has been ignored. They urged the regional executive to rectify and provide public higher education centers with adequate financing.
Convergent Renewal, of the teaching staff, missed a previous debate about the state of the university. In the opinion of this group, the powers of the Governing Council are being stolen in favor of the figure of the rector in matters of contracting services. This group asked about several issues related to the increase in income in colleges or the teaching positions announced for 2024, while criticizing the cuts in the research field and praising the generation of energy through its photovoltaic installations.
Finally, the Alternative Program for Teachers intervened, describing the low regional funding as disappointing and wondering what university is aiming for in the medium term with funding like this. The average expenditure per student on the islands is one of the lowest in the country, he added, compared to other communities that show clear support for their universities. “We are in a situation of insufficient funding that has been maintained over time, which if it persists would lead the University of La Laguna to irrelevance,” which in his opinion demonstrates the “little sensitivity of the autonomous community.” The magnitude of university underfunding is in the tens of millions, he concluded.
Before ending the morning session, the rector, Francisco García, thanked the faculty groups for their unanimous position in their perception of the financial situation of the institution. “This is not sustainable, and the level of uncertainty remains very high.” However, conversations are taking place with the Treasury, he explained, for which the rector outlined “some optimism”, not to reach the 177 million initially budgeted, “but at least to get a little closer,” he said.
