The Regional Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Migdalia Machín, through the General Directorate of Universities and Research, has defined two key strategic lines for 2025: the improvement of the system of scholarships and university aid and the implementation of micro-credentials in the public universities of the Archipelago.
One of the most relevant novelties in terms of scholarships is the implementation of the second chance, a measure that will allow first-year students who decide to change careers after assessing their choice or for other reasons to re-apply for a scholarship from the Government of the Canary Islands. This initiative seeks to prevent students from dropping out of the university system due to a change in their interests or expectations.
In addition, the Canarian Executive is working on the creation of an academic excellence supplement, an additional aid aimed at students with outstanding performance. The possibility of increasing the amounts of current scholarships is also being studied, exceeding the figures granted by the Ministry of Universities of the Government of Spain, which have not been updated in years.
Another measure under study is the inclusion of students of higher artistic education within the scholarship system. To this end, coordination with other areas of the Government, such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry, is being assessed, given that the competence could depend on these bodies.
In parallel, work is being done to speed up the management of scholarships and travel grants, with the aim of reducing resolution times. To this end, negotiations have been initiated with the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC), which could take over part of the management of these procedures. Collaboration is also underway with the General Directorate of Digital Transformation of Public Services to improve accessibility and clarity in the presentation and monitoring of applications.
Another of the major objectives for 2025 is the implementation of micro-credentials in the Canarian public universities. This training model, which has been in the works since 2024, will allow offering flexible and specialized training, adapted to the needs of the labor market. Currently, the Ministry is developing the draft Order in coordination with the universities and other bodies such as the Treasury, the Projects Unit of the European Instrument Next Generation EU and the General Directorate of Universities and Research.
The Minister of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín, has stressed the importance of these measures. "We want a fairer and more accessible scholarship system, which rewards excellence, prevents abandonment and supports those who really need it. The second chance is key so that no student sees their access to higher education limited by an initial choice that did not meet their expectations."
Regarding micro-credentials, Machín has pointed out that "the future of academic training involves more flexible and specialized models. We are working with our universities to make the Canary Islands a benchmark in this area and to ensure that students have more tools to strengthen their professional profile."
These measures are in addition to the commitment made in terms of scholarships, with a growing investment that reinforces the commitment to students. For the 2024/2025 academic year, 10.5 million euros have been allocated to scholarships that will cover tuition, transport and accommodation, which represents an increase compared to the 8.4 million of the previous year. This economic effort allows to expand the scope of these aids, facilitating access and permanence in higher education in the Canary Islands.
