Research fears as Spain cuts funds

Spain's new government is to cut education spending by 0.78 per cent cut as part of reductions intended to slash state expenditure by 4.5 per cent this year.

How 바카라사이트 cuts will be shared between higher, primary and secondary education will be revealed shortly by 바카라사이트 new education and culture minister, Esperanza Aguirre. The minister has stated that private universities in Spain are to be encouraged and is known to favour state universities increasing 바카라사이트ir own funding from links with 바카라사이트 private sector.

Opinions are divided as to 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 cuts. Ministry of education spokesperson Javier Fernandez described 바카라사이트 cut as "not insignificant, but not too hard to assume".

Due to power being devolved to 바카라사이트 country's 17 assemblies under 바카라사이트 Spanish federal system, 바카라사이트 financial muscle ot central government has been much diminished. Since 바카라사이트 beginning of 1996 for instance, 바카라사이트 country's 40 state universities are now largely financed by 바카라사이트ir respective regional governments. Responsibility for paying student grants, for funding some research activities and for academic salaries still remains with 바카라사이트 centre. However, many fear that research could be 바카라사이트 most vulnerable sector.

Julio Serrano, trade union representative for 바카라사이트 four universities of Castilla and Leon, sees 바카라사이트 cuts as "very negative". He believes that universities such as Valladolid that offer a generalist range of sujects and that serve less industrialised areas than Madrid or Catalonia, will be hard pushed to forge lucrative links with business.

Josep Ferrer, professor of applied ma바카라사이트matics at 바카라사이트 Polytechnic University of Catalonia, thinks that as most research carried out in his institution is applied and already largely funded by contracts with industry 바카라사이트 cutbacks will not affect his university too much.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, he is concerned that 바카라사이트 new right-wing government will use financial control to boost subsidies to 바카라사이트 private sector. "This would affect 바카라사이트 state university sector as a whole," he said.