Chronic Underfunding: A Burden on Universities
The public universities of the Community of Madrid are on the verge of collapse due to insufficient funding that has eroded their infrastructure, made their staff precarious and hampered their academic development.
The rectors of the six public universities in Madrid have publicly denounced this situation, demanding an increase in funding to guarantee the viability and quality of higher education in the region.
Devastating Consequences of Underfinancing
The lack of funding has had disastrous consequences for Madrid’s public universities, including:
- Job insecurity of staff, with 49% temporary contracts and an average age of 55 years for full professors and 59 years for full professors.
The Economic and Social Impact of Universities
Despite the difficulties, Madrid’s public universities continue to play a crucial role in the region’s economy and society:
- Generation of direct economic value through salaries, taxes and contributions, as in the case of the University of Alcalá de Henares, which contributes 113 million euros annually.
Unfair Competition from Private Universities
The proliferation of private universities in the Community of Madrid, which already outnumber public ones, is creating unfair competition:
- Private universities compete for public resources, such as internship places for health degree students.
The Role of the Regional Government and the LOSU
The rectors of Madrid’s public universities demand that the regional government:
- Implement multi-year, goal-based financing to ensure revenue predictability.
- The stabilization of temporary teaching staff forces universities to offer numerous new positions, which represents an additional financial burden.
A Call to Action
Madrid’s public universities are at a critical point. Underfinancing, unfair competition and regulatory uncertainty threaten its future.
It is essential that the regional government and the autonomous communities work together to address these challenges and guarantee the viability and excellence of public higher education in the Community of Madrid.
The future of the region depends on a highly educated workforce and world-class research institutions. Investing in Madrid public universities is investing in the future of the Community of Madrid.
