The rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, held a live conversation yesterday, December 19, with the students of the academic institution through the Twitch channel, which allowed him to respond instantly to all the questions that were asked of him.
Accompanied by the Vice-Rector for Students, Rosario Alonso, both offered their views on different aspects of academic life, from the improvement of the regulations governing continuous assessment, to their position on international mobility or specific support programs for students with special educational needs, among other issues.
Specifically regarding the Erasmus program, he noted that this year marked the first time students have been able to receive the necessary financial aid in advance to cover their stay abroad, which he believes promotes equal opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of offering more international degrees and strengthening shared strategies with other European institutions, such as the STARS EU alliance, of which the University of La Laguna is a member.
Regarding support tools for students with disabilities, the vice-rector added that it has so far been conceived as a support program, although the aim is to offer it as a better-structured service with a more comprehensive view of students' needs, including psychological support if necessary. Regarding the suspension of the university shuttle bus service, Hernández added that it is a service that is rarely used by students, who have mostly opted for the tram, making its cost unjustified.
The conversation also touched on the university's curricular internship program, which now faces the obligation to register students with Social Security, which will entail an expenditure of 300,000 euros for the educational institution. It was also added that a significant effort has been made to better match the placements offered by companies and organizations with the student profile.
Francisco García was also asked about the state of some infrastructure, such as the Biology department, which lacks classrooms, and the Nautical department, which lacks some facilities for practical teaching. In both cases, the rector explained that they are working on an institutional infrastructure plan to gain a more holistic view of the issue and prioritize actions.
Another participant inquired about university funding and the current situation of the institution. García responded that, following a joint stance by the two public universities regarding the limited budget planned for 2024, an increase of three and a half million euros has been secured. This provides a somewhat clearer situation for the next fiscal year, but by no means resolves the university's major problems.
One of the issues that needs to be addressed is the clear aging of the workforce, a matter also confirmed in the latest report from the CYD Foundation published recently, the rector added. This is compounded by the need to adapt to the new organic law governing the university system, for which it has been estimated that 12 million euros are required to implement the new contractual arrangements.
The rector was also asked about cases of sexual harassment or sexism that have arisen within the university, at which point Francisco García took the opportunity to reiterate his and his team's firm stance of zero tolerance for this type of abuse. He also reminded everyone that there are bodies, such as the Inspection Service and the Gender Equality Unit, to address these issues.
Screenshot of the session.
to prevent and protect people from such events.
The session, which lasted an hour and was moderated by journalism students Pablo Herrera and Lucía Rodríguez, had forty students registered and was followed continuously by seventy. The idea is to hold these meetings every semester, so that students have the opportunity to access a direct channel to express their doubts and concerns to the Rector's Office.
The virtual meeting concluded with an encouraging message from the rector, who expressed his enthusiasm and motivation for the important task ahead during his six-year term. Francisco García called for hope and collaborative work, emphasizing that the students are the primary reason for the existence of this public institution.
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