Luis Ortega I Córdoba, (EFE) a “linear formula” that would produce “mismatches.”
In an interview with EFE at the Real Círculo de la Amistad in Córdoba, the counselor, José Carlos Gómez Villamandos, who was president (2019-2022) of the Confederation of Rectors of Spain (Crue), has indicated that his objective continues to be “ the same thing that I wanted before”, which is “to improve the university system for a better service to Andalusian society”.
He has pointed out the “complexity” of being “the first university system in Spain” and the challenge of addressing the “great diversity” that exists, with centuries-old universities and “completely different” socioeconomic environments, for which reason “we cannot apply a formula linear” financing that “produces mismatches”.
Once the “2006 model” has been overcome, which for Villamandos “constantly harmed a number of universities”, the new model will seek a “general formula” that distributes a certain amount of funds and then others “through contract-programs” that allow “helping the university to improve” and attend to “its singularities”.
After the last meeting with the Andalusian universities at the beginning of the year and the one scheduled for February 10, Villamandos considers that the “ideal situation” would be to reach an “agreement” on the basis of the model in March “at the latest” and, after the “regulatory procedure”, which in “may be approved”.
Guaranteed payroll
Financing that should alleviate the situation of teaching and research staff and whose payrolls “are not at risk”, assured the counselor, who stressed that the “priority” will be “financing the staff” with a policy of “stabilization and renewal of templates”.
“The financing model has to be a tool for improvement in itself, and it is not an end, so of course the improvement of working conditions is a priority,” says the counselor.
On the other hand, regarding university fees and bonuses, Villamandos defends that Andalusia “is one of the three autonomous communities that has lower fees” and also has “bonuses” of up to “90 percent”, some “conditions » that approach the «European university».
However, the counselor acknowledges that the “third and fourth registrations” represent a “very high price increase” and there are “complicated situations” for students in the economic situation that make them “drop out of a subject or their study, which in the end It’s a failure for everyone.”
For this reason, the Ministry will meet with the Student Advisory Council “in mid-February” to “work on some strategy” to benefit those students “who need it in some particular conditions”, something that already happens with the Erasmus program, that it has “5% more” to meet similar needs.
Dynamic map of degrees
Likewise, Villamandos has advocated a reorientation of the map of degrees since some “are in high demand by the productive sector”, with employability “of 100 percent” and “by society”, but “they do not reach a sufficient number of students”. , so the “problem comes from the previous stages”.
For this reason, he has advocated an “awareness” and “information” campaign so that “they do not see these races as a difficult situation” and “really see their full potential.” For this reason, the counselor has stated that a “dynamic map” of degrees will be promoted where universities “every two or three years” can “offer degrees” depending on “some criteria”.
Specifically, the “social demand” and the “capacities of the university itself” based on “a territoriality”. “It is not a matter of replicating degrees between provinces simply because at that time they are in great demand”, since there is an “important factor” such as “employability” that will be taken into account”.
In addition, there are also “degrees that may have a singularity and that are necessary” and that have a “social demand” that “we cannot abandon” either “because of our own history”, so the key will be to “seek collaboration between universities” to go towards “interuniversity degrees” that “optimize resources” and that “we do not leave fields of knowledge that are necessary abandoned”.
private initiatives
Finally, given the situation of the private university in Andalusia, Villamandos recalled that it is the region “with the fewest private universities” in Spain and if “the population rate is considered, then much less”, while there are “more than 7,000 Andalusian students studying abroad in private universities”.
“It is an initiative that falls within the constitutional framework and the regulatory framework of the Administration, so you cannot say no,” said the counselor, who emphasized that Andalusia will demand “quality criteria” and that is why there are ” two initiatives” from the previous government that “will go to Parliament and it will determine if it is approved.”
In addition, there are “six others pending” of which those that arrive “with a negative report” from the Ministry “we will not start them up” and those that have a “favorable” report, which right now “there are two” must have the “Reports of the Andalusian Evaluation Agency”.
Correct LOSU
On the other hand, the Department of University, Research and Innovation of the Junta de Andalucía will “correct” the future Organic Law of the University System (LOSU), which is being processed in the Senate and is expected to be approved at the end of February, understanding that “disrupts the system.”
The Andalusian counselor recalled that it is a law “with a lot of controversy” and that it has been done “trying to please everyone” but without paying attention to “the integrity of the document.”
“There has been general discontent” in the university community, says Villamandos, who stressed that the objective was a law “that would not allow us to get closer to Europe” and “be more effective” and with “important controls”, although the The government «opted for a different model that «disrupts the university system».
“It responds more to the independence movements than to what the university system needs, which is why from Andalusia we will try, in the area of regional competences, to correct everything that we understand to be dismantling the system and not reinforcing the system”, has the counselor apostilled.
Homogeneity in the Ebau
On the other hand, he has assessed that the next Evaluation of the Baccalaureate for University Access (Ebau) is “exactly the same” as last year, although he has regretted that the Government wants to “accelerate a series of processes” and establish a ” new model” without “consensus” or “knowing how to implement it”.
In this sense, although this year “is a pilot experience”, Villamandos has advocated for an Ebau that grants “equal opportunities to any young person in Spain” and that has “a homogeneous criteria and content”, which leads towards a “single” test.
“Homogeneity in evaluation and content is necessary” and the Government has a “tool that it does not want to use” and that is the “Higher Educational Inspection”, so it must “fulfill its functions” to “maintain homogeneity and equal opportunities throughout the university system.”
A situation that for Villamandos is due to the “step back” in university autonomy and the “neutrality that universities must have” that “complicates” with the new LOSU that, in his opinion, conditions the “government” of the institutions themselves. and, furthermore, “it gives encouragement to the cloisters” so that they “take a political position” in matters “that are not of the university itself.”
For this reason, he has advocated “preserving university autonomy” and preventing “politics” from taking over the universities, he concluded. EFE
