The PP senator has asked Castells not to "divert his responsibility towards the Autonomous Communities, other ministries or appeal to university autonomy" •
The spokesman for the Universities of the Popular Parliamentary Group in the Senate and senator for the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Jesús Vázquez, has reproached the minister of the branch, Manuel Castells, for his "lack of transparency, of the desire for real dialogue and resignation of functions towards Universities, with teachers and with students ”.
Throughout his speech, at the appearance of Minister Castells in the Senate Committee on Science, Innovation and Universities, the popular spokesman has indicated that it is not understood that more than a month passed between the appointment of the minister and his presence at the head of the Ministry; and the question was: "Where's the minister?"
Similarly, Vázquez has reproached Castells “for his habit of not giving answers, not even when we ask them in writing. I confess it, Minister, I am frustrated with the little feedback we receive from you, "he said.
Likewise, Jesús Vázquez has also asked Castells not to "divert his responsibility towards the Autonomous Communities, other ministries or appeal to university autonomy." Thus, the spokesman for Popular Universities in the Senate recalled that there are many criticisms that have arisen as a consequence of the "sterile, untimely, costly and counterproductive decision to create two ministries, disassociating the much-needed union between University and Science "
In reference to statements made by Castells in which he spoke of the 'romanticism' of the University, Vázquez has appealed to the minister to ask the rectors and rectors, “if they feel romantic struggling to take their institutions forward, in complicated contexts and with a Ministry that they feel increasingly distant and less empathetic with their demands. "
Similarly, Jesús Vázquez has endorsed the words of the president of the CRUE, in his speech in Congress, on June 4, where he states verbatim: "We are on the verge of collapse, voluntariness is over." Situation that can be aggravated more, before decisions taken by the Ministry, "without taking into account the principle of institutional loyalty that should govern any relationship between administrations," he added.
Thus, Vázquez has recalled some of these decisions, such as those of the “change in the range of fees, the decisions on scholarships, the six-year terms of transfer, which, if not compensated, can seriously damage the universities”.
CUTS FROM THE PSOE GOVERNMENT
In another point of his speech, the spokesman for Universities has expressed his concern, with what the Prime Minister said, last June 10 in Congress, that there will be cuts in public spending; or Minister Calviño herself, who announced in Brussels that Spain will have to cut 35,000 million next year. “What will happen if these cuts prevent the minister's promised rise in scholarships from taking place? Has the Ministry thought of any action to avoid that the scholarships remain little less than Christmas bonuses? ”Asked Vázquez.
Likewise, Jesús Vázquez has been interested in whether Castells is willing to compensate the Autonomous Communities, in accordance with jurisprudence, for the increase in spending that their decisions entail; And how do you intend to compensate Communities such as Galicia that "decided to freeze university rates since 2010, having the lowest rates in the entire State".
Likewise, Vázquez has pointed out that, to all this, we must add "the lack of transparency, of dialogue and its famous headlines." The high responsibility of public management "should not base their communication on launching headlines, more or less unlucky or conspicuous, when what underlies each day is the discontent of both teachers and students."
Thus, the Galician senator has warned Castells that "he has to stop the attitude of, we are going to see if it works, we are going to make it work"; And for this, "it is necessary to speak with the university community, with which, obviously, you have not spoken, neither with the faculty nor with the students."
PRESENTIALITY AS A RULE OF THE UNIVERSITY
In another point of his intervention, Jesús Vázquez has assured that "face-to-face has to be the rule of the University," and that the learning that this pandemic has brought us, "should serve to reinforce the system and introduce new tools, but not to change the system and lose the university essence ”.
Similarly, Vázquez has reproached Castells that when they establish their scholarship model, “they do not choose to stimulate students by rewarding those who make an effort; nor do they really cover those affected by this enormous pandemic, because they have not stopped to think about what will really happen to those families that next year will have much less income than those existing in the year 19 ”.
RESEARCH STAFF AND SYSTEM FINANCING
Likewise, the Galician senator has criticized that the Government “still does not recognize investigating personnel as essential at such a delicate moment and that they were able to help so much. What have you done so that the research staff could return to the laboratories? ”
Another matter of concern, explained the popular spokesperson, is the financing of the university system, especially due to the difference in financing that will be raised with the public prices derived from tuition. "Will this difference be borne by the autonomous communities? Are they going to have to assume the universities themselves knowing that the University has always been underfunded? Is the creation of items intended for aid for this financing considered if they cannot be assumed by the regional administrations themselves? ” Do you have any budgetary provision to compensate the universities for the possible endowment of technological equipment ?, Vázquez has insisted.
Finally, Vázquez has been concerned about the competitiveness of the Spanish University, which "has one of the oldest professorships" and in which "researchers are most precarious", for which reason he has asked the minister to invest more in human capital and to establish a post doctoral scholarship program to subsequently incorporate them into the Beatriz Galindo and Ramón y Cajal programs.
