Díaz Ayuso anuncia creación de distrito único de prácticas en Madrid
Among the main axes and news of Lesuc, Díaz Ayuso emphasized that the first law on higher education in the most important university region in Spain will be a pioneer in all higher education: universities and scientific research, higher vocational training, higher artistic education, sports, and commercial schools. This legal recognition will aim to bridge the gap between training and employment and encourage continuous learning and professional retraining.
The future law on higher education, universities, and sciences faces the challenge of dual training to create a unique district of practices, a coordination commission in which all stakeholders will intervene, and a unified computerized application, to ensure that no university or professional training remains without practice.
The law is committed to protecting the humanities and promoting Spanish in university life, with measures such as reducing fees for students in Latin America to pay like any Spanish or EU student. Additionally, a minimum Spanish proficiency will be required to study at public and private universities, except for degrees taught in another language.
A new funding model for universities
Regarding the new funding system for public universities, which will be multi-year and reviewed every five years, it will include three levels: basic funding for the normal operation of the campus; another for specific needs that will allow, for example, the rehabilitation of buildings; and an additional and optional third level to achieve various objectives, such as improving dual training and master’s degrees or promoting admission tests that increase demand for access to degrees like early childhood education and primary education, among others.
To complement this funding, new financing tools will be offered to these institutions, such as managing their own investment portfolios, inter-university loans of their surpluses on favorable terms, managing their own properties, activating a shopping center that allows cost reduction, or developing common administrative management services.
Other news from the future standard will include the recognition of teacher accreditations from all over Spain, following the model of the law in the open market; the possibility for universities to recognize credits for volunteer activities; access for higher students and teachers to their own research first applications in Spain; the promotion of public-private collaboration in the university field; the recognition of business schools, which offer a university ranking and a legal framework that will guarantee their quality; or the obligation of universities to inform families if the teachers they offer are official or not to avoid confusion.
With educational freedom
In addition, Díaz Ayuso has announced that the Community of Madrid will bring to court the royal decree on the recognition and accreditation of universities prepared by the central government, «which attacks private universities, goes against the constitution, and encroaches on regional powers.» The Community of Madrid, through the Ministry of Education, Science, and Universities, has already made statements against this text to the Ministry.
This royal decree will be processed through emergency procedures and will establish additional requirements for private institutions, such as a minimum of 4,500 students.
The regional government will oppose these regulations with all available tools to defend not only the centers in Madrid but also the 60% of private universities approved by PSOE regional governments that would now be condemned to illegality and disappear with this royal decree.
The university system in Madrid consists of six public and 13 private institutions offering over 1,800 official diplomas, master’s, and doctoral degrees to more than 300,000 students (over 200,000 in public institutions and the rest in private universities). The Madrid community, which represents 14.4% of the Spanish population, concentrates 22.4% of university students in Spain, compared to other regions such as Catalonia, which have fewer students (15.9%) than their population percentage (16.5%); or Andalusia, with 17.7% of the population and 17.3% of total university students in the country. Over half of university students in the Madrid community are in public institutions.
