Sánchez toughens the law to curb university scams

BarcelonaThe Spanish government has launched an attack on university scams, institutions that, in the opinion of the Moncloa government, do not meet sufficient requirements to be able to award higher education degrees to their students. The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Monday that the central government will approve this Tuesday in the Council of Ministers the urgent process of a royal decree to "toughen" the criteria for the creation of new universities.

The objective of the measure, according to Sánchez himself, is to put an end to "those educational scams that do not meet the standards that should be required" of higher education. "A university cannot be a degree-selling machine; we will pursue practices that undermine the prestige of our universities, both public and private, so that they meet our quality standards and ensure the excellence of the professionals who care for and defend us," warned the Spanish president. Sánchez made these statements at the event. In defense of a quality university, key to the social elevator, held at the headquarters of the Pious Schools of the UNED in Madrid.

Starting this Tuesday, then, when the royal decree is expected to be approved, it will be more difficult to open a new university. Now, a favorable report from the General Conference on University Policy is required, and with the new measures, another one will be necessary, prepared by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (ANECA) or equivalent regional institutions. This report will be binding and independent. "It guarantees rigorous control," stated Sánchez. The requirements do not end there: a minimum critical mass of 4,500 students will be required during the first five years of operation. Otherwise, the university will not be able to continue opening its doors. Further guarantees of "financial solidity" will also be requested: "We will ask for a commitment to provide at least 10% university accommodation to facilitate access to housing, and experience in university management will be required for its promoters," Sánchez clarified.

In terms of research, the Spanish government proposes that online universities be considered national in scope "because their sphere of action is, in practice, the entire country." Thus, they can only be authorized with the approval of the Cortes Generales "to strengthen oversight and guarantee their academic quality for the benefit of students throughout the country." "The university cannot be a degree factory without guarantees," Sánchez concluded.

Madrid and Andalusia

It was at this point that the Spanish president singled out specific regions. One of them is the Community of Madrid, governed by the Popular Party's Isabel Díaz Ayuso, whom Sánchez criticized for having "cut almost 30% of funding for public universities." He also took a swipe at Andalusia, also governed by the People's Party (PP): "The university budget has been completely frozen for six years," Sánchez retorted. Above all, the Spanish president criticized the fact that disinvestment in public education has encouraged the creation of these private centers with lower standards of excellence.

The Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Diana Morant, also supported this thesis and attacked the regions that "suffocate" public universities. And these statements have already received a response from Díaz Ayuso in the form of a post on social media: "The minister's statements threatening and denigrating private universities are unacceptable and border on illegality," the Madrid president stated.

The difference of Catalonia

Although Sánchez's announcement could have a significant impact on the state university system, Catalonia is unlikely to directly notice the effects of this new decree, as the Catalan university system is one of the most stable in the country. In fact, no new university has been created for over fifteen years. However, the new regulation could benefit Catalan universities in the sense that, if the criteria for opening private universities across the country are tightened, it will be more difficult for students to flee to private institutions in other parts of Spain or to offer online education.

In Spain, there are already more university students completing their master's degree in the private sector than in the public sector.