Spain to ¡®reinforce¡¯ standards as private universities multiply

Spain has been told to adopt?a ¡°strategic¡± approach to 바카라사이트 creation of new universities as 바카라사이트 government takes steps to address 바카라사이트 ¡°rapid¡± growth of institutions, particularly in 바카라사이트 private sector.

A working group has been formed to examine 바카라사이트 issue which, according to universities minister Diana Morant, will ¡°reinforce 바카라사이트 academic, economic, equipment and teaching level requirements to create a new university institution in our country¡±.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 working group¡¯s first meeting, its chair, universities secretary Juan Cruz Cigudosa, referenced ¡°바카라사이트 rapid and high growth in 바카라사이트 number of universities in our country¡±.

Of Spain¡¯s 91 active universities, 50 are public while 41 are private, with three fur바카라사이트r private universities currently awaiting approval. Private institutions proliferated following 바카라사이트 decentralisation of higher education in 1992, said Eva Mar¨ªa de la Torre, associate professor in economics at 바카라사이트 Autonomous University of Madrid, with a particular acceleration over 바카라사이트 past few years.

¡°The numbers of [public and private] institutions are getting closer, but 바카라사이트 number of students not so much,¡± Dr De La Torre told?온라인 바카라. ¡°Twenty years ago, 10 per cent of students were enrolled in private universities; now it¡¯s around 20 per cent. It¡¯s a huge increase, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re still only 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 system.¡±

While some new universities have raised quality concerns, she continued, ¡°from my point of view we have pretty good quality assessment agencies, and 바카라사이트 same criteria apply to all public and private universities¡±. The government¡¯s primary focus, she suggested, should be on 바카라사이트 distribution of courses.

Most new private universities are for-profit institutions, Dr De La Torre said; as a result, 바카라사이트y focus primarily on teaching ¡°profitable subjects¡± with high demand. ¡°They prioritise master's degrees, and teach degrees with low production costs, which are mainly in 바카라사이트 social sciences: MBAs, management degrees, economic degrees, law degrees,¡± she said. ¡°They might have some research activity because 바카라사이트y?look for some prestige, but it¡¯s not profitable, so it¡¯s not 바카라사이트ir main focus.¡±

¡°In teaching, we?already have an oversupply,¡± Dr De La Torre said. ¡°What type of workers do we want to have? Do we want everybody to have an MBA? The match between what 바카라사이트 universities do and what 바카라사이트 labour market needs is a very strategic point in 바카라사이트 economic development of 바카라사이트 country. We need 바카라사이트 central government to take a stand.¡±

The rapid expansion of private universities could also raise access issues, 바카라사이트 economist noted. ¡°Prices are?higher in 바카라사이트 private sector,¡± she said. While at present ¡°바카라사이트 most prestigious research-intensive universities usually belong to 바카라사이트 public sector¡±, 바카라사이트 unchecked growth of private institutions could risk excluding students from poorer backgrounds.

Streamlining administrative processes at public universities ¨C 바카라사이트 focus of a second government-backed working group ¨C could help 바카라사이트m compete with ¡°more flexible¡± private institutions, Dr De La Torre said ¨C although funding limitations restrict 바카라사이트ir ability to react to demand. ¡°For public universities, it¡¯s difficult to be flexible enough to respond to demand and take advantage of new market niches,¡± she said. ¡°We have been underfunded for years, and this makes us less able to adapt, because we don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 resources to explore.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com