The Governing Board of the Conference of Rectors and Chancellors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), headed by its president and rector of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Julián Garde López-Brea, met at La Moncloa with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant Ripoll. The meeting addressed key challenges for Spanish universities, including public funding, the new EU multiannual financial framework, the issue of university accommodation, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the need to continue supporting university digital transformation programs.
Julián Garde recalled the chronic underfunding of the public university system, as recognized in the LOSU itself, and stressed the importance of establishing a calendar with procedures and contributions from each Administration to meet the investment target of at least 1% of GDP set by law.
The rector of the UCLM also expressed concern about the shortage of affordable accommodation for the university community, a problem that negatively impacts equal opportunities, and offered the support of universities to mitigate its consequences.
Garde requested the President of the Government to lead the revitalization of public universities so they can act as "the great engine of change towards a knowledge society".
During the dialogue, discussions also covered the new EU multiannual financial framework and its weight in university and science funding, artificial intelligence and its impact, as well as the continuation of programs supporting university digital transformation, such as UniDigital.
