The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy convened, through Order TES/1267/2021, of November 17, the «"Investigating Program", It was intended to recruit young job seekers to carry out research and innovation initiatives within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Its objective, therefore, was to cover the hiring of young researchers in public research organizations, public universities, technology centers, and other public and private entities participating in a research project.
The University of La Laguna, as a public institution of higher education, has among its many objectives the contribution to the creation and development of knowledge through research and its subsequent transfer to society, promoting the social, cultural, and economic development of the Canary Islands. In this regard, the "Investigato Program" initiative, launched by the Canary Islands Employment Service, has provided an opportunity for recent graduates to begin their research careers and undertake research and innovation projects within the framework of research initiatives related to key areas for the economic development of our islands.
The University of La Laguna has secured funding for three initiatives within the program, one in 2022 and two in 2023. All three initiatives recognized the university's research institutes as the optimal environment for recent graduates with research interests to integrate into competitive research groups. These institutes have provided an ideal working environment for recent graduates and have gained exposure to scientific activity through the numerous research projects in which they have participated. The University of La Laguna boasts institutes across all disciplines, enabling the "Investigative Program" to offer graduates of diverse backgrounds and scientific interests an opportunity to begin their research careers.
These three proposals were aimed at hiring university graduates for a one-year period, based on the specifications outlined in the application submitted for each call for proposals. However, they generally shared the following objectives: promoting research careers among recent university graduates; encouraging the integration of young researchers into established research groups; training highly qualified researchers to boost public research in the Canary Islands; improving the academic qualifications of university graduates; and leveraging the potential of young researchers to develop new lines of research.
Within these lines, the proposals put forward by the University of La Laguna have specified the following objectives:
- To promote the research training of young people in subjects of interest to the University of La Laguna.
- To promote knowledge of specialized research methodologies in the different areas of interest, encompassing all branches of knowledge.
- To promote collaboration between the University of La Laguna and the Canary Islands Employment Service in facilitating the employment of young graduates.
- To foster the creative and critical character of young people in their first steps in the field of research.
- To improve the employment placement of young graduates in different training disciplines.
- To promote the improvement and creation of new lines of research at the University of La Laguna through the application of knowledge by young graduates.
- To encourage the participation of young people in both national and European research projects.
- Promote the creation of networks for multidisciplinary and transnational research.
The activities carried out within the framework of these projects have taken shape in the various lines of research being pursued by some of the research groups that make up the university institutes, and which, in most cases, are integrated into research projects funded through public calls for proposals. This provides a framework of undeniable scientific potential and training capacity for these recent graduates.
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