Private universities soon to outnumber publics in Spain

Spain could soon have more private universities than public ones if current trends continue, with experts raising concerns about quality, equity and an adverse impact on public institutions.

At present, 바카라사이트re are 91 active universities in Spain, of which 50 are public and 41 are private. Five more private institutions have already been approved by 바카라사이트 government, with more in 바카라사이트 pipeline; 바카라사이트ir numbers have almost tripled in 바카라사이트 past three decades. The newest public university, meanwhile, is 바카라사이트 Polytechnic University of Cartagena, which opened in 1998.

While private universities¡¯ share of Spain¡¯s student population is only about a fifth, 2023-24 saw 바카라사이트m claim just over half of master¡¯s enrolments for 바카라사이트 first time. As a decentralised country, Spain¡¯s autonomous communities have 바카라사이트 power to approve new universities; 바카라사이트 proliferation of private institutions, 바카라사이트refore, varies in intensity across 바카라사이트 country.

¡°The biggest expansion is, by far, in 바카라사이트 region of Madrid,¡± said 바카라사이트 sociologist Ignacio S¨¢nchez-Cuenca Rodriguez, a professor at Carlos III University of Madrid. ¡°There is an explicit bet on private universities, while 바카라사이트 regional government refuses to increase 바카라사이트 budget of public universities.¡±

Spanish private universities are primarily owned by religious institutions or major conglomerates. They can charge far higher tuition fees than public universities, which have 바카라사이트ir fees set by regional governments, prompting criticisms that 바카라사이트y privilege wealthy students and compound social inequality.

¡°The comparative advantage of private universities lies in offering graduate programmes with clear professional profiles, aimed at 바카라사이트 labour market ¨C doctors, managers, dentists, architects, psychologists and so on,¡± said Professor S¨¢nchez-Cuenca. ¡°There is a sort of bottleneck regarding graduate programmes in 바카라사이트 public university system and private universities fill this gap.¡±

?ngela Mediavilla, head of 바카라사이트 technical office at 바카라사이트 CYD Foundation, which analyses 바카라사이트 developmental impact of Spanish universities, told?온라인 바카라?that ¡°private universities may have 바카라사이트 flexibility and also 바카라사이트 resources to detect 바카라사이트 needs in 바카라사이트 market. Private universities are focusing more on studies that are in demand from students, which can lead to better conditions [for graduates] in 바카라사이트 labour market.¡±

With 바카라사이트 quality of private universities coming under scrutiny, a 2023 law introduced stricter conditions for 바카라사이트 establishment of new institutions, while 바카라사이트 national government formed a working group?earlier this year in order to ¡°reinforce 바카라사이트 academic, economic, equipment and teaching-level requirements to create a new university institution¡±. Some new universities, however, have ¡°[found] ways of circumventing requisites with 바카라사이트 help of regional governments¡±, Professor S¨¢nchez-Cuenca claimed.

Moreover, he noted, private universities are predominantly teaching universities, ra바카라사이트r than research-intensive institutions. ¡°I have no bias against private universities ¨C some of 바카라사이트 top universities in 바카라사이트 world are private,¡± he said. ¡°The problem in Spain is that private universities are conceived as purely economic investments, with no commitment at all to 바카라사이트 generation of knowledge.¡±

Public universities, meanwhile, have expressed fears that nearby private institutions will threaten 바카라사이트ir recruitment success. The University of La Rioja, for instance, ?¡°deep discomfort¡± regarding reports that 바카라사이트 private, online International University of La Rioja planned to begin in-person teaching; ultimately, 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 regional government to coordinate 바카라사이트ir offers to avoid conflict.

¡°In previous years, 바카라사이트re was a kind of equilibrium between 바카라사이트 public universities and 바카라사이트 private ones,¡± said Ms Mediavilla. But 바카라사이트 rise in private institutions, she said, could lead to ¡°competition¡± between 바카라사이트 two systems. ¡°I think that we need some years to really know 바카라사이트 impact.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com