The Universitat de València’s Governing Council has approved the proposal for the Strategic Plan for 2012/2015. Now, the UV’s Social Council will reaffirm it for good. It is the second plan of the academic institution after that in force during 2008-2011 period. The Vice-Principal for Sustainability, Campus and Planning, Clara Martínez, has presented the outline of the document.
The Strategic Plan covers the Universitat de València’s activities through four large areas: ‘Teaching’, ‘Research’, Transfer’ and ‘Campus life and participation’. The strong and weak points are reflected in each area, as well as the goals that should be achieved. New this time, the plan will regulate a series of indicators of all the fields, which will allow to rigorously assess the degree of objective’s compliance.
The document identifies some factors which make the review of the plan advisable. Among others, ‘the persistence of the global economic recession and its effects on the Valencian Community make advisable to think about the university-society relationship’; ‘an uncertain institutional framework and sometimes hostile’; ‘the development of indicators systems and cost systems which will assess the processes in charge of the different activities of the university’; or ‘the increasing internationalization of the university teaching.’
Universitat de València has the task, as the document states, of ‘instructing professionals to be competent at a European level, and seek prestige and international impact which will contribute our society’s development.’ It also states: ‘Dissemination of science and culture, as well as reaffirmation of democratic values in favor of the society in general, but especially the Valencian society.’
According to the document: ‘Universitat de València wishes to be recognized in the future for its quality teaching, its open nature and its internationalization.’ But also because ‘its capacity to promote market labor insertion of the students and the employability of the graduates.’
Universitat de València also aims to offer a wide variety of transfer services and scientific-technical services through easy understandable processes. It wishes to be considered by the wide cultural offer and participation in the university life, which contribute to have ‘a UV experience.’ Finally, it wishes to continue being a cultural referent for the Valencian society.’
Impact RD 20/2012 on the university community
One of the most discussed topics of the meeting was the impact of the Spanish Government’s Royal Decree 20/2012 on the university community. The decree will remove the extra pay of all the University’s employees. The personal days and holidays will be reduced, among other things.
The Universitat’s manager, Joan Oltra, has talked about this things, and has particularly focused on the effects these changes can have on the early retired lecturers.
The Principal, Esteban Morcillo, and the Manager, Joan Oltra, have expressed that a restrictive interpretation of this regulation requests the public universities to suspend the payment of the compensatory amount which is payed to the early retired lecturers. The Principal has defended the programme, unanimously approved in 2007, and has supported the initiatives by a group of affected lecturers. Joan Oltra stated that these quantities are included in the general budget of the university.
In behave of the affected group of lecturers, the full university professors Juan Manuel Ramírez and Luís Campos have talked about the judicial reasons which make the measures of the Royal Decree inapplicable. Among others, this regulation is devised for the former senior executives who cease being active and not for the retired.
The Principal expressed his will to have a meeting with the affected and has announced the next CRUE meeting for September, where the joint actions of the Spanish universities regarding these measures will be discussed.
Last update: 31 de july de 2012 07:30.
News release
