The institution is pleased that the Minister of Universities “accepts the challenge” of addressing “a call for assistance.”
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Abra. (Press Europa) –
The University of La Laguna (Tenerife) is delighted that the Government aims to “investigate” with both Canary Universities the possibility of increasing the number of spots in residences and major schools, given the access challenges faced by students. At the academic institution in Tenerife, the volume of applications has surged significantly, while there are facilities with available spots that require restoration.
During a parliamentary commission, the Minister of Culture, Sciences and Universities, Midgalia Machín, indicated this week, in response to a query from NC-BC, the steps the Executive intends to take to address a concerning issue. She detailed that approximately 1,000 places were available for Canarian students; at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, there are 440 spots, while La Laguna offers around 546.
Machín further emphasised that the government’s objective is to “continue to enhance” the accommodation capacity for students, although she acknowledged that this is primarily the responsibility of the universities and is generally discussed during budget negotiations.
“We are very pleased that the Ministry has taken on this urgent call for assistance regarding accommodation. First, we need to increase the number of spots due to demand; moreover, we also need to ensure that major schools and residences are maintained in suitable conditions,” stated the Vice-Rector of Students, María Rosario Hernández, in comments to Europa Press.
Applications reached approximately 1,400
She also noted that applications for residential spots for the 2024/2025 academic year reached around 1,400, up from 1,000 in the previous round, whereas the University offers only 546 spots. “The demand has grown considerably, particularly in the last two years,” she remarked.
Regarding the necessity for renovations and upkeep of the facilities, Hernández explained that many of the existing constructions are “aged” and thus require more than routine maintenance; she indicated that “more significant renovations” are essential.
“Currently, at the University Residence Parque de las Islands, we have a project only in its preliminary phase, precisely because we lack funding, aimed at restoring it block by block. The intention is to proceed, as this should have been addressed long ago,” the vice-rector elaborated.
In fact, she noted that the lack of upkeep of the residential facilities in the ULL has resulted in occasions in recent years where they could offer “far fewer” spots than available due to “rooms that had not been refurbished.” “Progress has been made gradually,” she revealed.
In terms of funding, she mentioned that the university would even consider public-private partnerships, stating that the issue is “well defined”: there is a “massive” demand leading to access challenges, not only due to the number of university places but also because of the scarcity of reasonably priced housing.
