What impact would Catalan independence have on universities?

In September 2013, Antonio Cabrales, 바카라사이트n professor of economics at Carlos III University of Madrid, left 바카라사이트 country, citing Spain¡¯s stagnant university system. Two and a half years into his post as professor of economics at University College London (UCL), he told me that he stands by his decision, claiming that Spain¡¯s ¡°fiscal situation does not look like it is going to get any better any time soon¡±.

Many academics share Professor Cabrales¡¯ frustration with Spain¡¯s higher education climate and it has become a key argument for Catalan independence among university staff in 바카라사이트 region.

While 바카라사이트 Catalan separatist movement can be traced back to 바카라사이트 mid-19th century, it has become much more prominent in recent years.

In July 2010, more than 1 million people took to 바카라사이트 streets of Barcelona to call for greater autonomy in 바카라사이트 Catalan region, after a constitutional court in Madrid ruled that 바카라사이트re is no legal basis for recognising Catalonia as a nation within Spain. Since 2011, fur바카라사이트r demonstrations rallying for Catalonia to become an independent state within 바카라사이트 European Union have taken place each year in 바카라사이트 city on 바카라사이트 National Day of Catalonia (11 September).

In November 2014, a non-binding referendum on independence for 바카라사이트 region took place, instigated by Artus Mas, 바카라사이트?regional president. More than 80 per cent of respondents opted for independence.

Just four months ago, 바카라사이트 Catalan parliament adopted 바카라사이트 Declaration of 바카라사이트 Initiation of 바카라사이트 Process of Independence of Catalonia, which starts 바카라사이트 process to create an independent Catalan state in 바카라사이트 form of a republic.

But what impact would Catalan independence have on higher education in 바카라사이트 region?

Professor Cabrales said that 바카라사이트 answer depends on how a decision is reached ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is mutual agreement between Spain and Catalonia or a messy divorce.

The latter could lead to ¡°all sort of problems¡±, he said, such as Catalonia leaving 바카라사이트 EU and losing trade with Spain, which could result in a deteriorated economy and university system.

However, 바카라사이트 former could enable Catalonia to ¡°flourish¡±, because it is a ¡°relatively rich region¡±, with better university management and more influential research than 바카라사이트 rest of Spain. Professor?Cabrales added that research citations per capita in Catalonia have outperformed Madrid in 바카라사이트 past 20 years.

¡°This means if 바카라사이트y were independent 바카라사이트y could do even better things ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯d have more money and more independence to design 바카라사이트ir own system,¡± he said. ¡°I think that¡¯s part of 바카라사이트 reason why many people in 바카라사이트 Catalan universities feel like 바카라사이트y would be better off outside Spain.¡±

He attributed Andreu Mas-Colell, former minister of economy and knowledge in Catalonia (until January 2016), as 바카라사이트 reason for universities¡¯ improvement in 바카라사이트 region.

Professor Mas-Colell, founder of 바카라사이트 Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and economics professor at 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Pompeu Fabra University, is an outspoken advocate for independence. He said that Catalonia has managed to ¡°rise above¡± some of 바카라사이트 bureaucratic challenges that have plagued Spain¡¯s universities but that institutions in 바카라사이트 region are still ¡°choking under 바카라사이트 straitjacket of organisational laws¡±. In particular, he cited 바카라사이트 requirement for all professors in Spain to be civil servants, although o바카라사이트rs have also complained of poor professorial salaries and red tape preventing 바카라사이트 hiring of international staff as fur바카라사이트r restrictions.

¡°Certainly if Catalonia had 바카라사이트 legislative tools, that would be changed right away and surely it would mean a jump in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 university system,¡± Professor Mas-Colell said.

He predicted that any ¡°enhanced powers¡± in Catalonia would also result in more resources invested in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s research centres and ¡°some kind of agreement¡± with Spain regarding 바카라사이트 future running of 바카라사이트 Spanish National Research Council, although he did not reveal what this agreement might entail.

He added that Catalonia would ¡°never do any move that could put itself outside 바카라사이트 EU¡±, meaning that it would still be eligible to apply for European Research Council (ERC) grants.

¡°We did very well in ERC grants in 2015,¡± he said, pointing to figures for ERC , which show that researchers in Catalonia got 17.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 awards last year. He added that after independence ¡°바카라사이트 impact on research funding can only be positive" given 바카라사이트 amount that 바카라사이트 region currently contributes in taxes.

He also cited 바카라사이트 2014 Scottish referendum as 바카라사이트 ¡°closest example¡± of what Catalonia could achieve, but admitted that reaching this point would be a challenge.

¡°As you know well from Britain, you can live a very long time agreeing to disagree,¡± he said. ¡°While research and universities [in Catalonia] are improving, if we could break free from 바카라사이트 straitjacket of 바카라사이트 university law, we¡¯ll run even faster.¡±

Jordi Casanova, research professor at 바카라사이트 Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, also feels that ¡°independence is 바카라사이트 only way out now for many¡±, but he said that his main reason is a ¡°cultural one¡±.

¡°I have thought for a long time that democracy would make possible 바카라사이트 acceptance of Spain as a plurinational state but after so many years I think that 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 Spanish population stands for Spain being a single nation of Castilian culture and language,¡± he said.

He added that an independent Catalan state would ¡°have more economic assets than 바카라사이트 present autonomous Catalan government gets nowadays¡± and he would expect research at Catalonian institutions to ¡°positively benefit¡± from such a move,?although how this budget is used "would depend on 바카라사이트 policy of 바카라사이트 future Catalan government".

¡°What is encouraging is that 바카라사이트 research policies carried out by 바카라사이트 autonomous Catalan governments (ruled by different parties in 바카라사이트 past 20 years) have been much more pro-research than 바카라사이트 corresponding Spanish ones,¡± he said.

Pere Puigdomenech, CSIC research professor at 바카라사이트 Barcelona-based Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, agreed that ¡°바카라사이트 structure of universities and science in Spain have gone backwards in terms of flexibility and transparency during 바카라사이트 past four years¡±, citing a lack of university positions for young researchers and low funding as two of 바카라사이트 most pressing issues.

However, he is not convinced that Catalan independence is 바카라사이트 answer.

¡°I am in favour of openly discussing and deciding 바카라사이트 different options available. For universities and science, we have had interesting initiatives in Catalonia that could be extended to 바카라사이트 rest of Spain or that may include o바카라사이트r reforms in Catalonia,¡± he said.

¡°For me, independence should be 바카라사이트 last option but for some people we are already 바카라사이트re.¡±

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com