After the visit on the first day of the campaign, the group led by Maria Vicenta Mestre visited the Faculty of Physics, the School of Engineering, the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Burjassot-Paterna Research Institutes. The infrastructures and the situation of the research staff have been at the centre of the talks developed in the "Parlem-Treballem-Avancem" campaign context.
The eighth day of the election campaign was very intense for the team of the only registered candidacy for the elections on 1st March. Centred on the Burjassot-Paterna Campus, it consisted of three morning visits to the Faculties of Physics and Pharmacy, as well as the School of Engineering, followed by an afternoon event at the Research Institutes of the Science Park.
The candidate made a general presentation in all the Centres of the University’s structural situation, the great challenges it faces as an institution, especially in terms of the ageing of the staff, she insisted once again on the need to sign the pending collective agreement, agreed with the trade unions since 2018, and highlighted some essential aspects of the campus infrastructures. She also emphasised the major problem facing the institution: the absence of a financing plan, also promised in 2018, and for which the news coming in is not very encouraging.
In relation to the Burjassot-Paterna Campus, the full university professor of Basic Psychology emphasised the problem that could arise from the elimination, due to the approved labour reform, of contracts for work and services for research staff until the Science Law is approved, which is the law that has to regulate these situations with indefinite contracts. This is a particularly important issue in our University, as more than 1,400 people could be affected. On this point, she explained the different ways that are being worked on, insistently, from CRUE, and specifically the request for the urgent publication of a Royal Decree-Law, before the end of March, which allows for the early application of the permanent contracts that the new Science Law contemplates. The candidate for the Office of the Principal expressed her confidence that the initiative will crystallise.
Continuing with staff, the principal announced that on Wednesday, 23rd February, a meeting of the University Board will be called with an item on the agenda for the regulation of substitute teachers.
The candidate insisted on the need to offer, within the budget possibilities of the University, conditions of stability and progression in the academic career that act as poles of attraction and retention of research talent. In this sense, she commented that CRUE is working with the accreditation agencies so that people with a research career see reduced teaching requirements for their accreditation and progression in the academic career.
Regarding infrastructure, Mavi Mestre confirmed that the Burjassot-Paterna Campus will have two buildings where the Joaquim Català building is currently located. One will be for optics and optometry studies, which, in addition to centralising the facilities of the corresponding degree, will relieve congestion in other buildings on the campus. The other one will be used for general campus services, including sports services.
At all the events, the importance of rationalising the use of the current spaces was stressed, given that sometimes saturated spaces coincide with others that have little or no activity. The candidate announced that a study will soon be carried out on the use of research spaces, as it was already done for teaching spaces, and that indicators and criteria will be established for the allocation and redistribution of these spaces.
Another aspect that appeared in several visits was people's mental health, aggravated by the pandemic situation we are experiencing. The principal announced the intention to set up a pilot programme, starting with the University Psychological Clinic, to offer psychological assistance to the university community on each campus at least two days a week.
Faculty of Physics: for infrastructures and PAS training
After the initial presentation by the candidate for Principal, the Dean of the Faculty, Jordi Vidal, took the floor to express his concern regarding the pending maintenance work, especially those affecting the roof of some departmental areas, as well as the update of laboratory equipment. The candidate confirmed that the actions, although their implementation is sensitive, as they have to be applied in a centre that continues with its ordinary activity, are scheduled to be carried out imminently.
Representatives of the PAS have highlighted two problems they face in their day-to-day work: the difficulty in adapting to changes in management, especially those related to the electronic management of the centres and services, and the very high demand for the University's training courses in this area, which means that some staff have problems signing up. The Principal has taken good note of these issues, which need to be addressed immediately.
Finally, a representative of the research staff expressed a specific problem in the approval of the creation of a spin-off that is delaying its creation. The vice-principal for Research pointed out that there have been circumstances from which we need to learn in order to improve its functioning.
ETSE: services for the centre and teachers’ recruitment
The candidate for Rector spoke about the teaching staff needs of the School, as well as some of the problems that the building suffers, despite being of recent construction. In this sense, both the director of the ETSE, Rafael Magdalena, and representatives of the departments have highlighted situations that need to be improved as soon as possible. Moreover, he pointed out that the image that the University projects of its School of Engineering must be improved, as the teaching and research results and the situation in the rankings are better than the general perception of this Centre. He also emphasised the need to review and rationalise the positions’ profile in order to adapt them to current needs.
In answer to a specific question about the possibility of bringing forward the exams to cover for absences, the vice-principal for academic planning and teaching staff commented that substitute teaching staff could be a very useful figure in these cases and confirmed the possibility that, from the next academic year onwards, this figure could be used.
Student representatives have expressed some specific needs of the centre, as it is a building that is not integrated within the Burjassot-Paterna Campus.
Mainly, an extension of the EMT bus route, which is already being discussed with the City Council; the need for a library or, at least, an extension of the opening hours of the centre's reading room; a reprography service or equivalent; and a garden or similar space where people can take a rest during the centre's long school days, which is already being studied by the vice-principal for economy and infrastructures.
Pharmacy: new infrastructures and publications in scientific journals
In the presence of Hortensia Rico, dean of the Faculty, as well as a very large representation from the university community, the Principal, the principal shared some information on the staff needs of the departments and on the investments made (for example, the 12 million euros earmarked for changing the air conditioning of the centre) and those already planned: mainly kitchens and a tasting room for the degree in Gastronomic Sciences and a pilot plant for the manufacturing of medicines.
He listened to the request of a researcher who expressed the difficulty, in many cases, of having to pay the costs of publishing in scientific journals, especially the most prestigious ones. The vice-principal for research listed the journals with which there are agreements for free or reduced-price publication and indicated that work is being done to reach more, especially in the field of health sciences, but it is not possible to cover the entire catalogue of journals.
Members of the Faculty have highlighted the fact that the Centre has a vice-principal in the principal's team, in the figure of Professor Adela Valero.
Burjassot-Paterna Research Institutes: children nursery schools and stabilisation of young research staff
To end the day, the team visited the research institutes, where the candidate showed the attendees her satisfaction with the success achieved by the researchers of these institutes regarding attracting funds from international projects, which in 4 years has increased from 53 to 93 million euros, and in the postdoctoral contracts and grants obtained.
He was also able to listen to the concerns of the attendees, which began with the request to set up a nursery school for the children of research staff. It was pointed out that this is a long-standing but complex demand, which requires the availability of space and resources and compliance with the established requirements by the Conselleria of Education, Culture and Sport. However, it has been agreed to take it into consideration, despite the added difficulty that the dispersion of its campuses entails for the University.
Other aspects highlighted were the problems of research staff regarding their stabilisation, their accreditation and the justification of participation in research projects. The Vice-Principal for Research explained the most relevant aspects of the measures that are being taken and those that may be taken in the future.
The event also stressed the need to review the spaces used by the different institutes and research groups and to establish criteria for their rationalisation and redistribution.
With this event, the candidate for principal concluded the campaign on the Burjassot-Paterna Campus. As she did on the same campus on the first day, she recalled the importance of voting on 1st March because, although it is a single candidacy, it is important to have an Office of the Principal with a strong recognition from the university community and to show a strong Universitat de València with regard to the important challenges we will face in the next four years.
