SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 16th Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Today, Tuesday, the rectors of the public universities of the Canary Islands and Andalusia convened a summit in La Laguna, hosted by the centre itself. The primary aim of this inaugural meeting was to discuss common challenges faced by all higher education institutions in southern Europe, as well as to identify opportunities in a global context.
Topics addressed during the day included the implementation of the Organic Law of the University System, the potential for collaborative degree programmes, funding issues, and concerns about the unregulated growth of private universities. These discussions will continue in the afternoon session to finalise agreements and specific actionable proposals.
The meeting was attended by the two rectors from the Canary Islands, Francisco García and Lluis Serra, as well as their counterparts from Andalusia representing Córdoba, Granada, Seville, Pablo de Olavide, Cádiz, and Almería. Representatives from Huelva and Málaga were unable to attend due to prior engagements.
Highlighting the significant economic contribution of higher education institutions, the rector of the University of La Laguna pointed out that they account for 2.2% of the national GDP, with even greater contributions to regional development in the Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Catalonia. Together, these two autonomous communities represent 17% of students in the national university system.
Emphasising the shared challenges posed by their proximity to Africa and connections with Latin America, the rectors are already collaborating on joint development projects in these regions.
The financial framework was also discussed, with Andalusian universities following a contract-programme model to address funding issues, while the Canary Islands are in the process of developing a similar approach. The presence of private institutions in the university landscape and the need to recruit more teaching staff were additional topics touched upon during the meeting.
The rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) underscored the importance of inter-university cooperation in enhancing institutional capabilities and achievements. He highlighted that public universities are investments with a significant impact on the local community and expressed concerns over underfunding, citing a deficit of €13 million for La Laguna and €9 million for the ULPGC.
Ciro Gutiérrez, Deputy Minister of Universities, expressed his enthusiasm for the formation of this alliance, stressing its critical role in fostering growth and competitiveness on a global scale. He reaffirmed the importance of public universities in driving societal growth, development, and equality.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
Acting as the coordinator and spokesperson for Andalusian universities, the rector of Pablo de Olavide University, Francisco Oliva, highlighted the common challenges faced by frontier universities in southern Europe in providing scientific knowledge and innovation to address pressing issues such as climate change and migration flows.
Regarding private institutions, he emphasised the importance of upholding quality standards in teaching and research, advocating for an organised and strategic approach to implementation. He raised questions about the viability of centres offering all their programmes online and whether this aligns with their educational goals.
Explaining the funding model, he outlined a safeguard clause ensuring universities receive funding equivalent to the previous year, factoring in salary increases and specific supplements, with additional funding tied to achieving predetermined objectives. The model also includes provisions for addressing inflationary costs and increasing funding based on performance outcomes.
The rector of the University of La Laguna expressed optimism about the financial model to cover nominal expenses and inflationary adjustments, with the finalised document expected by the end of the year, according to the Deputy Minister of Universities.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez extended greetings to the rectors later in the morning, underscoring the vital role of the university in making La Laguna a cosmopolitan and international city. He recognised the opportunity for experts to contribute solutions to regional challenges.
