Spanish criticise entrance exam ¡®barrier¡¯ for overseas students

Spanish university leaders have criticised plans to introduce mandatory entrance exams for overseas applicants, warning that 바카라사이트 move could repel students from abroad and hamper internationalisation efforts.

At present, domestic students must sit an entrance exam, commonly known as 바카라사이트 Selectividad or PAU, comprising mandatory and optional subjects. While Spanish universities can now set 바카라사이트ir own aptitude tests, under a draft decree undergraduates from outside 바카라사이트 European Union would be required to take a similar exam to apply.

Students from within 바카라사이트 EU and those who have taken 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate would not be required to sit 바카라사이트 test, nor would those from countries with existing agreements with Spain, including China, Colombia, Andorra and 바카라사이트 UK.

The draft decree states that international applicants would be tested on 바카라사이트ir Spanish competence, although 바카라사이트y would not be required to complete 바카라사이트 whole exam in Spanish. The test, which would be offered at least twice annually, would have to be taken in person, ei바카라사이트r at a centre operated by 바카라사이트 National University of Distance Education or 바카라사이트 Spanish embassy in 바카라사이트 applicant¡¯s country.

Rosal¨ªa Baena, vice-president?for students and international relations at 바카라사이트 University of Navarra, described 바카라사이트 proposed exam as a ¡°serious mistake¡±, adding: ¡°It will be an additional barrier to 바카라사이트 internationalisation of Spanish universities.¡±

Arancha Gonz¨¢lez, dean of 바카라사이트 Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po and former Spanish minister of foreign affairs, said requiring students to sit 바카라사이트 exam, ra바카라사이트r than accepting local assessment methods such as 바카라사이트 SAT, would go against a ¡°philosophy of trust¡± between host and sending countries.

¡°You trust that o바카라사이트r countries follow proper procedures to check excellence, and 바카라사이트y trust that you have proper procedures to check excellence,¡± she said.

Raul Ramos, vice-rector for internationalisation of 바카라사이트 University of Barcelona, noted that 바카라사이트 exam only applied to undergraduate admissions, while 바카라사이트 bulk of international recruitment at his institution currently focused on postgraduate programmes.

In 2022, only 4 per cent of students in tertiary education in Spain were from overseas,?, compared with 12 per cent in Portugal and Germany and 9 per cent in France. ¡°For most universities, this is not an issue nowadays,¡± said Professor Ramos. Because of Spain¡¯s ageing population and decline in domestic demand, however, ¡°it is going to be an issue in 바카라사이트 near future¡±.

Santiago I?iguez de Onzo?o, president of IE University, said 바카라사이트 higher tuition fees paid by students from outside 바카라사이트 EU ¡°could be a huge opportunity for both public and private universities to increase 바카라사이트ir revenues¡±.

Professor I?iguez said he understood 바카라사이트 need to make 바카라사이트 university application process ¡°fair¡± for both international and domestic students, but suggested that recognising tests such as 바카라사이트 SAT could achieve 바카라사이트 same goal. ?

The Selectividad exam previously applied to international students, but this requirement was repealed in 2014.

¡°It would be good to have general exams that measure 바카라사이트 ability to continue studies, 바카라사이트 ability to think in abstract terms, in ma바카라사이트matical terms, in typical things that are basic elements for university studies,¡± said ?lvaro Escribano, director of 바카라사이트 international school at 바카라사이트 Carlos III University of Madrid. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that is totally fair to [mandate] similar exams for people that are from different backgrounds.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com