The rectors of the two public universities in the Canary Islands, Lluís Serra (ULPGC) and Francisco García (ULL), have formally presented their complaints and objections to the Canary Islands Government's multi-year financing proposal. The proposal, received on July 28, 2026, after a year's wait, has been described by university officials as evidence of the ongoing underfunding of the Archipelago's academic institutions.
According to the rectors, the proposed budget for 2026 and previous years has not grown sufficiently to cover the increase in structural expenses, including personnel, supplies, and infrastructure maintenance. Since August 2025, university management teams had reported an estimated loss of 25 million euros for the period 2022-2026 to cover these costs.
For the year 2027, the public universities require approximately 290.4 million euros for their sustenance. However, the Department's proposal contemplates only 286.9 million euros, creating an initial deficit of 3.5 million euros. This shortfall would increase by another 11 million euros due to the legally agreed state-level salary increase, totaling a 15 million euro deficit for the upcoming year alone.
In the document submitted to counselor Migdalia Machín, it is recalled that the universities had already communicated the impacts of the 2025 and 2026 salary increases since February 2026. Therefore, it is incomprehensible that the financial proposal does not incorporate these costs, which are determined by state regulations. The universities have calculated that the total funding needed for their structural expenses in 2027 amounts to 307,780,422 euros.
The rectors also addressed the need to reduce the financial dependence of universities on the autonomous community. They point out that the primary way to achieve this would be to increase public tuition fees, a responsibility that falls to the Canary Islands Government.
Despite the difficulties with regional funding, the universities have highlighted their ability to attract resources through competitive scientific calls at the state and European levels, as well as in knowledge transfer activities. However, these funds cannot be used for structural expenses and must be invested in approved research projects.
Finally, the universities express their surprise at the inclusion of penalties of up to 3.5% of basic funding, as well as the demand for numerous limits, rules, audits, and reports. They emphasize that they annually comply with the budget balance mandate and the audit reports required by regional law.
With this written submission, the rectors express their full willingness to engage in dialogue and a detailed analysis of all aspects presented in their considerations.
