The principal of the Universitat de València Mª Vicenta Mestre and five members of the Executive Council (the vice-principal for Studies and Language Policy, Isabel Vázquez; the vice-principal for Academic Regulations and Teaching Staff, Ernest Cano; the vice-principal for Strategy, Quality and Information Technologies, Joaquín Aldás; the vice-principal for Internationalisation and Cooperation Carles Padilla; and the general manager of the Universitat Juan Vicente Climent) have met today at the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences the board of deans of the centre, the directions of department, repersentatives of the Administration and Services Staff (PAS) and the Teaching and Research Staff (PDI) of the Faculty, and members of the ADR.

In the meeting with the PAS, people attending manifested their appreciation of the visit to the Faculty of the Executive Council and have raised doubts related to the emergency situation by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), such as teleworking or digital signature.

As an answer to doubts concerning COVID-19, the principal Mª Vicenta Mestre, the vice-principal Carles Padilla and the vice-principal Isabel Vázquez have explained the last decisions. Despite the social alarm, the principal called for calm and stressed the importance of the visits to the Faculties because of the greater proximity to "people who make possible to open doors and have activity at the Universitat every day." Concerning the management of the Coronavirus, she said, "in a very first moment, I sent an e-mail addressed to the 147 students in the North of Italy, later to all the Erasmus students in Italy and, at present, we are in contact with Italian and Spanish universities and authorities for the management of the different possible scenarios."

The vice-principal Carles Padilla has informed that the Office of the Vice-Principal for Internationalisation and Cooperation "is in continuous contact, evaluating the different scenarios and thinking, also, in the hypothetical reincorporation, re-registrations and continuous updates of the web page in the space committed to COVID-19." Moreover, she has transmitted calm, since "in the light of the return of students who were in China, Japan and South Korea, the focus is on Europe, and in this context, we must trust on the European Higher Education Area and the possibilities of adaptation that it provides". The vice-principal Isabel Vázquez added that "scenarios and solutions ad hoc will be given to the student body, PDI and PAS, because the scenario is not unique nor stable."

In response to the doubts and concerns raised in relation to teleworking, the vice-principal Joaquín Aldás, has set the advances that had already been made in this line and the reaction of the office of the vice-principal to the current context: "We are working, in the Computing service, on the possibilities to maximize our activity in light of the hypothetical closure of the centres, if necessary, following the instructions given by public and health authorities." In addition, she pointed out that "the preparation of the Universitat to increase the number of workers that can continue their work at home is well advanced." Moreover, the general manager of the institution, Juan Vicente Climent, added that "the UV is evaluating possibilities, scenarios and the best practices that are being applied in other institutions.”

Regarding the electronic signature, the vice-principal Joaquín Aldás, has highlighted the advances that are currently being achieved, the direction in which the management team of the Universitat wants the institution to go, the processes of revising applications, the dissemination of the signature service, and has also reaffirmed "the need to accompany technological improvements with training and information."

In this sense, the board of deans (with the dean Joan Monterde, the vice-dean Rosa Donat and the coordinator of the Degree in Mathematics Carmen Fernández) have pointed out the increase in the efficiency of the Degree in Mathematics and the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences in the last years, the introduction of the Double Degree in Physics and Mathematical Sciences the next academic year and the need of teaching staff restocking. To these issues, the open meeting that has taken place with the PDI has added doubts about the specific need of the studies of the centre and of the academic efficiency and quality.

In this sense, the Executive Council has emphasised on its support, in the words of the principal, to "strengthen and maintain the leadership of the Universitat de València in the field of mathematical science studies.” The vice-principal, Ernest Cano has given a wide explanation concerning the current situation in the absence of the signature of the preliminary agreement of the collective agreement established in 2019 and the suppression of the replacement rate that, as the principal affirmed, "would response and give a solution to many of the needs of staff and adaptation to the contingencies of the academic year and the retirement of PDI as well as of PAS."

The principal of the Universitat has highlighted the three priorities that she has transferred to the Valencian and state authorities:

-          The signing of the collective agreement that would allow for the expansion of the teaching staff and, thus, flexibility and adaptability to contingencies and structural changes in the workforce.

-          A financing plan for Valencian Public Universities: "Since the last Financing Plan we are the worst financed Valencian public university," she said.

-          The suppression of the replacement rate, since "this limitation makes it impossible to deal with the retirements that take place every year and leaves the University with a very significant deficit in staff".

By solving these issues "we would have the resources that we need to achieve the quality of teaching and research that our students deserve." "It is urgent and cannot be postponed to let us make a real staffing policy," insisted Mestre.

In the meeting with the student body (with a representation of the ADR led by its coordinator Roberto Pruñonosa), the main concern was about the cancellation of Fallas and the effect on the 'school calendar, the adaptation of the curricula in light of this contingencies and the effect on the student body. Answering these questions, the Executive Council has affirmed that "the necessary measures to avoid that student body be damaged by this situation will be taken". "We are working in all possible scenarios," they added. For his part, the vice-principal Joaquín Aldás has informed about the reinforcement of computing tools such as Aula Virtual "in face of the hypothetical situation of closure of classrooms" and answered questions concerning the development of the main applications affecting the student body.