University funding

The ACUP studies and produces reports to improve university funding in Catalonia and participates in discussions and forums on national and international funding of higher education and research.

The White Paper on the University of Catalonia establishes the need for universities to have an appropriate funding model, whose objectives are based on three main principles: adequacy, equity and accountability. Along this line, the Association and all member universities work to generate studies and proposals aimed at the improvement and adaptation of university funding in Catalonia. In this regard, it is worth noting the work carried out by the Head of Administration Committee of ACUP universities. Likewise, the ACUP has participated in recent years in various forums and seminars in Catalonia, the rest of Spain and abroad, where the models, tools and financial management of universities were analysed and discussed.

In 2006 the ACUP worked intensely in order to agree a better financing of public universities in close collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya. As a result of this collaborative effort, in October 2006 the Generalitat approved the Financing Plan for the Improvement of Public Universities for the 2007-2010 period. This plan provides increased funding for public universities during these four years at an average of 12.12% annually, according to the EU research and development budgets objectives set in 2010. Much of the increased university funding for this period was to be allocated to projects and objectives for the improvement of university activity, more specifically, for the improvement of teaching, the research and technology transfer mission and improving the relationship between universities and society, as well as the management and increase of the effectiveness and efficiency of the universities. Although  a large part of the resources approved by the Generalitat have not as of yet been transferred to the universities, the work done in collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya was a technical effort of great relevance.

Likewise, during 2010 several studies were carried out on the funding of Catalan public universities, because the application deadline for the distribution of Generalitat resources for public universities expired that year. Specifically, both the Head of the Administration Committee of ACUP universities as well as the Boards of Trustees of the universities, and an ad hoc technical committee are working to analyse and proposed tools and methodologies for university funding in the coming years, as well as mechanisms to improve internal efficiency and economy.

The ACUP is working to analyse and propose tools and methodologies for university funding in the coming years, as well as the mechanisms to improve the internal efficiency and economy
The ACUP is working to create studies and proposals aimed at the improvement and adequacy of university funding