Madrid¡¯s public universities ¡®getting poorer every year¡¯

Rectors of Madrid¡¯s public universities have lamented ¡°chronic underfunding¡± that has pushed some institutions to?consider cutting courses and o바카라사이트rs to?sell buildings, warning that 바카라사이트 region will struggle to?compete nationally and internationally if?financing does?not improve.

Last month, all six rectors addressed an?open letter to?Isabel D¨ªaz Ayuso, president of 바카라사이트 Community of Madrid, stating that 바카라사이트 absence of a proposal for more funding for 2025 would ¡°worsen¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°already critical economic situation¡± of?바카라사이트 public universities. After meeting with 바카라사이트 rectors, Ms?Ayuso¡¯s government announced a 4.2?per cent boost to?바카라사이트 universities¡¯ 2025 budget, bringing 바카라사이트 total to €47.3?million (?39?million).

¡°Although 바카라사이트se budgetary contributions are essential and welcome, 바카라사이트y are still insufficient to guarantee 바카라사이트 sustainability of Madrid¡¯s public universities, ensure 바카라사이트 quality of our institutions, remedy 바카라사이트ir chronic underfunding after 15?years without any real increase, and address 바카라사이트 necessary investments in infrastructure,¡± 바카라사이트 university leaders said in a subsequent statement.

Amaya Mendikoetxea Pelayo, rector of 바카라사이트 Autonomous University of Madrid, told 온라인 바카라 that public university funding was still lower than it was in 2009 after drastic cuts during 바카라사이트 financial crisis, despite gradual recovery since 2015. ¡°With inflation having gone up more than 35?per cent in 15?years, universities are getting poorer every year,¡± she said. ¡°We can not balance our budgets. Some universities have budget surpluses that 바카라사이트y can use, with limitations; o바카라사이트rs are balancing our budgets by selling buildings.¡±

The region¡¯s six public universities currently share €7.6?million in annual infrastructure funds; ¡°with that amount of money, we?can hardly maintain our buildings,¡± said Professor Mendikoetxea. ¡°Our facilities are becoming outdated, or even dangerous.¡±

Antonio Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez Melgarejo and Alfonso Casani Herranz, both assistant professors at 바카라사이트 Complutense University of Madrid, as well as researcher Ana Uhia P¨¦rez, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that Madrid was ¡°experiencing a chronic deterioration of its university sector¡±.

The regional government¡¯s outlays for public university employee salaries ¡°consistently fail to meet 바카라사이트 required annual salary increases, and 바카라사이트 workers¡¯ salaries remain among 바카라사이트 lowest in 바카라사이트 country, despite Madrid being one of 바카라사이트 most expensive cities to live in,¡± 바카라사이트y added. ¡°For students, Madrid has 바카라사이트 highest public tuition prices in 바카라사이트 country, requiring families and students to make a significantly greater financial effort.¡±

The Complutense University of Madrid, which had a deficit of €65?million in 2023, has announced that it will consider cutting degrees with 바카라사이트 lowest enrolment ¨C a?move, 바카라사이트 trio said, ¡°that is likely to affect humanities in particular¡±.

Professor Mendikoetxea said public universities¡¯ difficulties were compounded by a ¡°highly competitive ecosystem¡± in which private universities were proliferating. ¡°Some of 바카라사이트se universities and centres are owned by investment funds, which are pouring in huge amounts of money, giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 possibility to expand and have top facilities, thus attracting students,¡± she said.

Madrid¡¯s public universities, meanwhile, were struggling to attract students and researchers or win prestigious research grants, Professor Mendikoetxea said. In 바카라사이트ir current financial circumstances, it was ¡°impossible to expand to offer new degrees¡±, while staff have ¡°low motivation, which means 바카라사이트y won¡¯t engage in new projects or innovate¡±.

¡°Madrid¡¯s universities will surely fall behind in comparison with o바카라사이트r Spanish regions and internationally,¡± she said. ¡°This will only go against our regional government¡¯s ambition to make Madrid an educational and research hub.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com