The public universities of the Canary Islands warn that "they have never been so threatened"

The rectors of the universities of La Laguna (ULL), Francisco García, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Lluís Serra, have sealed this Thursday a new association that seeks to reinforce the projection of the contribution of both institutions and demand funding in accordance with the law.

The Association of Public Universities of the Canary Islands, which will have an annual rotating presidency that Francisco García will inaugurate, is born, according to its founding act, with the vocation of promoting and developing higher education, cooperation between both universities, and the defense of common interests.

"A new step" in the long trajectory of cooperation between both academic institutions, according to Lluís Serra, and a "historic event" from the point of view of Francisco García, who added that "together we are stronger," which "allows us to be more useful" to the Canary Islands, which is the primary objective.

It is not a "lobby" nor an initiative "against anyone," both rectors have agreed, although the ULL rector has hinted that a primary function of this association will be "the defense" of public universities, which "have never been as necessary" as in these times, just as they "have never been so threatened."

He referred to "simplism" and "populism," against which he wielded "academic rigor and scientific knowledge," and added that what both institutions are asking for is "that the Universities Law be complied with, nothing more, nothing less."

Specifically, the articles that establish that they must receive an amount equivalent to 1% of the regional GDP, which in the Canary Islands would be around 500 million euros, when at the moment "we are well below 300 million."

Asked about another of those "threats," the proliferation of private universities, Lluís Serra insisted that the new association "is not against anyone" but rather seeks to vindicate the role of public ones and make their offerings "more visible."

In any case, he asked to wait "a few years" to see "what becomes of this whole explosion" of private centers.
Francisco García, for his part, has called for "clear rules for everyone," both public and private operators, and "product control, as in all markets."

Union without cracks 

The rector of the ULL has emphasized that with the launch of this association, both universities are sending a message: "there is no turning back (...) We are going to be united. There are no cracks. We are going together, with all the consequences," he proclaimed.

Lluís Serra, for his part, has indicated that this alliance respects the uniqueness of both institutions but places the general interest of the Canary Islands "above any difference. Unity is not proclaimed, it is built every day (...) May this day remind us that we are stronger when we walk together," he proclaimed.

The rector of the ULL has announced that the first measure they will adopt will be to contact the Government of the Canary Islands to inform them of the launch of this association and to place themselves at their disposal to work in the "common interest we have."

He added that the Canary executive has conveyed to them "actively and passively" that it "clearly commits" to complying with what is established by the Universities Law regarding the implementation of a stable and pluriannual framework funding program.

Another of the initiatives contemplated within this initiative is the publication of dissemination campaigns on the contribution of the two public universities in the archipelago: both contribute 2.5% of the Canary GDP, about 1,300 million euros annually.

It also plans to promote forums for debate, talks, studies, and analyses, as well as to improve dialogue with social and economic agents of the islands and with other similar existing associations, such as the one in Andalusia, with which the Canary universities maintain "close collaboration."

This association, Francisco García has underlined, represents a community of 45,000 Canary Islanders, including students, teaching and research staff, and workers; "a group of people who want to say that they must be taken into account in writing the future of the Canary Islands," stated the rector of the ULL.