Conferences on university policy and the Organic Law on the University System (LOSU)

The Universitat de València hosted the conferences on ‘Challenges of university policy. Social councils in the context of the LOSU’. This event took place on 20 and 21 May at La Nau Cultural Centre and brought together experts and members of the university community to discuss public university funding, the role of social councils under the LOSU and trade union participation in these institutions.

Opening ceremony and main sessions
Principal of the Universitat de ValènciaMª Vicenta Mestre,Secretary of País Valencia Comisiones Obreras (CCOO)Ana García, and Federal Responsible of CCOO Institutional Participation and Social MovementsCarmen Vidalparticipated in the opening ceremony of the conferences.General Manager of the UV Juan Vicente Climent and Secretary of the UV Board of Trustees Encarna Mazón also attended.

Principal of the UV Mª Vicenta Mestre assessed the participation of Comisiones Obreras in these university entities and their historical role in the struggle for democracy. She also highlighted the common cause towards challenges such as the funding of the university system and the increase in staff to reinforce the quality of public education. The principal concluded her speech by reiterating the UV’s support for the Palestinian cause, calling for a ceasefire and the negotiation of a peace agreement.

Federal Responsible of CCOO Institutional Participation and Social Movements Carmen Vidal confirmed that the development and application of the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) affects all the sectors of the university, not only the academic but also the staff: administrative and service assistants, researchers, temporary or full-time professors, etc. According to her, the importance of these conferences revolves around two main ideas: the denounce of the underfunding of public universities and the awareness of social councils —in which the role of social partners is represented— and how the development of the LOSU can affect them.

Furthermore, Secretary of País Valencia CCOO Ana García stressed the importance of this event in order to be aware of the challenges posed by the entry into force of the law. According to her, it is essential for the CCOO to clarify the role of the social councils and their trade union presence and participation. The secretary also defended the autonomous plans for long-term financing and called for a fair autonomous financing model, a profound tax reform and the cancellation of the illegitimate debt, which would guarantee a fair benefit for public services.

Sessions
The following sessions addressed critical issues such as post-LOSU funding and the responsibilities of social council board members, with speakers including Vice-Principal for Teaching Staff and Academic Planning of the Universitat de València Ernest Cano, Social Counsellor of the Universitat de València and the Universitat Politècnica de València Consol María Valls Gregori, and Social Counsellor of the Technical University of Madrid and Secretary for Women at the Madrid CCOO Lidia Fernández.

Discussions and participation
After each session, discussions will be held to encourage debate and reflection on the issues raised. The active participation of the audience, experts, academics and trade union representatives made it possible to examine in detail the challenges the university faces in the context of the LOSU.

The main topics of debate were funding, trade union participation and the role of social councils. In the end, all parties agreed to continue working to strengthen academic institutions and guarantee a quality higher education for all.