The Minister of Higher Education announced on Tuesday that there will be an increase in funding for institutions in the sector by the end of the month, which recently revealed that they need an additional €60 million.
“We are currently negotiating with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister on the best way and amount of reinforcements to be allocated later this year”announced on the sidelines of the 5th Universia International Meeting of Rectors, taking place in Valencia, the Minister of Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, revealing that “there will be news at the end of this month”.
Speaking to journalists, Elvira Fortunato revealed that the rectors present at the event returned on Tuesday to remind those responsible of the problems of lack of money caused by inflation, but also by government measures such as the increase in salaries or meal subsidies.
“We take these increases into account”the minister assured, without saying whether the bills drawn up by the guardian will translate into the reinforcement of the 60 million requested by the universities last month.
Elvira Fortunado also revealed that next week there will be a joint meeting with representatives from universities and colleges to begin discussing “the terms of reference for creating a new funding model.”
“We are going to change the financing formula that was very out of step” is that “untouched for more than ten years”said the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
During the meeting, the minister will come up with a proposal for a new model that the ministry wants to apply in the 2024 national budget, with the guarantee that “no institution will lose money”.
Last month, the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP) asked the government for an additional 5% increase, i.e. another 60 million euros, to cover the increase in expenditure.
The legislative contract signed between the institutions and the government provides for increased transfers to cope with rising inflation or wages.
The minister is in Valencia this Tuesday as part of the 5th Universia International Meeting of Rectors, which will be attended by around 700 representatives of higher education institutions from 14 countries.
Source: DN
