Roberto Moreno, the ULPGC manager, presented the accounts which yielded a financing capacity of one million euros for the university

The settlement of the Social Council 2021 budget, of which 92.98% was implemented, was approved.

The ULPGC manager, Roberto Moreno, presented the ULPGC Annual Accounts for the 2021 financial year during an extraordinary plenary session held on Tuesday 28^th June. He highlighted the high level of implementation which exceeded 86%, the level of investment in research, and the balance sheet for healthy liquid assets. Attending the plenary session were: the ULPGC rector, Lluís Serra; the chairman of the Social Council, Ángel Tristán; the vice chairman, José Carlos Naranjo; the secretary general, Miguel Ángel Acosta, and the other members of the council.

The 2021 Annual Accounts, prepared by the ULPGC Vicegerencia de Asuntos Económicos [the team in charge of managing economic affairs], include the balance sheet, the profit and loss account including all assets, the state of changes in the net worth, the state of cash flows, the state of the budget settlement, and the activity report. Moreover, it includes the accounts of ULPGC dependent entities and data regarding compliance with budgetary stability.

In 2021, the implementation of budgeted expenditure exceeded 86%, which is six percentage points higher than in 2020. Implementation of revenue reached almost 90%. As Roberto Moreno stressed, the 2021 financial year signifies the recovery of activity and of budget implementation levels.

The largest expenditure was for staff, which represented more than 71% of payments made, but the ULPGC manager emphasised the level of investment in research, which bordered on 13% of expenditure. “In fact, this has been the financial year with the highest amount committed to research investment, exceeding 8 million euros, compared with 4.89 million euros in 2020, 5.6 million euros in 2019 and 4.85 million euros in 2018”.

The ULPGC accounts show that the institution has financial sufficiency, budget stability, and no future debt, although Roberto Moreno did highlight the need to have a multi-annual plan for the public funding of Canary Island universities, as “in 2022 we will have to deal with unforeseen situations, such as the rise in inflation and subsequent rise in the cost of supplies, and goods and services, in addition to the considerable extra cost of electricity ”.

The financing capacity reached one million euros for the ULPGC and -1.17 million euros for the dependent entities. This results in a total of -0.17 million euros. If costs directly related to COVID are not taken into account the latter amount would rise to 0.8 million euros.

Approval of the Social Council 2021 budget settlement

The ULPGC Social Council also approved the settlement of its own 2021 budget presented by its secretary general, Miguel Ángel Acosta. That budget amounted to 509,119.96 euros, 0.13% less than in 2020, although over the course of the financial year it reached 522,503.93 euros – due to the inclusion of money carried over and new revenue. The Social Council 2020 budget was 525,961.52  euros. In 2021 the Social Council implemented 92.80% of its resources.

The budget implementation and activities carried out by the Social Council in 2021 were marked by the “new normality” that emerged following the effects caused by the economic and healthcare crisis brought about by Covid19. With regard to the actions undertaken in 2021 the secretary general, Miguel Ángel Acosta, highlighted the presentation of the Canarias Importa [the Canary Islands are Important] initiative to different bodies from the Canary Island’s government and to representatives of society, culture, trade unions, and politics. Another of the initiatives with the greatest impact is related to the call for grant applications aimed at ULPGC doctorate students in order to undertake educational visits outside of the Canary Islands.

With regard to the 2021 budget breakdown, the largest share was allocated to staff costs (51.93%), followed by current goods and services (45.72%). The Social Council passed resolutions which made it possible to increase area 4 and area 6 expenditure relating to current transfers and capital transfers respectively. This allowed the call for applications for 26 grants directed at doctoral students with the aim of promoting mobility during research and doctoral student visits, of at least one month, to other universities and research centres from outside the Canary Islands, and of promoting the participation of these students in conferences or other types of scientific meetingswhich contribute to increasing their interaction with national and international specialists and with the aim of presenting the results of their doctoral research.

In 2021, the Cátedra del REF [Organisation for the Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands], which is managed by the ULPGC Social Council, received the 10,000 euros in annual funding from the Círculo de Empresarios [Society of Entrepreneurs] as established in the collaboration agreement signed between the ULPGC, its Social Council and the Gran Canaria Círculo de Empresarios.

The ULPGC Social Council held its first ordinary plenary session of the year in order to address various matters of interest, in addition to the presentation of reports by its chairman, Ángel Tristán, and the ULPGC manager, Roberto Moreno.

During his remarks, Tristán Pimienta expressed his “satisfaction with the good rapport and the honest and mutual cooperation with the rector, Lluís Serra, and his governing team and with the manager, Roberto Moreno, and his colleagues, who have understood and taken on the role of this Social Council”. In this respect, the chairman of the Social Council mentioned various areas which he is particularly pleased with, “such as the Mentoring Plan to attempt to save students from failure”.

He also highlighted the introduction of the Alumni Association and the signing of an agreement between the University and the Confederación Canaria de Empresarios [Canary Island Confederation of Entrepreneurs] which in his view is “crucial in designing the training required by the fast-paced world of the great digital revolution”. The plenary also approved the renewal of the agreement with the Confederación Canaria de Empresarios that supports the Cátedra del REF [Organisation for the Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands], which was created in 2014 at the Social Council’s proposal.

Regarding work on institutional cooperation he mentioned the creation of the Canarias Importa initiative, of which there will be a second edition “because the Canary Islands are still important to us”.

Similarly he referenced other planned activities such as holding a national forum on the EU Next Generation funds for European recovery and fraud detection measures in public universities, organised in cooperation with the Conferencia de Consejos Sociales [Conference of Social Councils] as part of the 30^th Universidad de Verano de Maspalomas. These sessions will feature a panel of speakers comprised of representatives from the EU and Spanish Court of Auditors, various syndicates and regional auditing agencies, as well as officials from the Ministry of Universities and the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Continuing his report, Tristán Pimienta referenced a visit to the Fuerteventura and Lanzarote campuses, noting that the Social Council will continue discussions with the respective Island Councils and city councils in order to give the required impetus and to provide them with suitable spaces and accessibility.

With regard to the LOSU [University System Act] and the meetings held in recent weeks, he alluded to the meeting with the minster of universities, Joan Subirats, in which the rectors of the ULPGC and ULL also participated. In this meeting, Ángel Tristán conveyed to the minister the opinion of the Conferencia de Consejos Sociales regarding the new law, which “is dated at birth by not taking into account the OECD recommendations for the structural reform of Spanish university governance”. Likewise, Tristán reported that he also participated in a virtual extraordinary meeting of the Conferencia de Consejos Sociales’ executive committee, alongside its general secretary Miguel Ángel Acosta, in order to finalise the amendments to be proposed for the LOSU draft bill.

He concluded his report highlighting the ongoing cooperation between the Social Council and the ULPGC rector’s office which has succeeded in increasing the number of grants aimed at students wishing to begin research tasks which are compatible with their studies. He also announced that a new edition of the Breakfast Lectures will take place on 22^nd July with the contribution of the lecturer Mateo Valero, honorary doctor of the ULPGC, who will talk about a topic that is incredibly important at this time: the chip.

He concluded by explaining that, up until January 2022, 182 audit reports were processed as part of internal monitoring activities.

The Social Council manager’s report

 In turn, the Social Council manager, Roberto Moreno, reported on the launch of the new online platform, the processing of files, and the single digital archive. With regard to Human Resources he highlighted the measures which allow for remote working, giving 128 civil servant positions equal status with their counterparts, the advertising of extraordinary public sector job vacancies which aim to make temporary posts permanent, the project for bringing together departmental administrative staff under the same roof, the new tender for an electricity provider, and the introduction of analytical accounting.

Roberto Moreno explained that around 25 new procedures are being included each week, going from only one immediate response procedure at the beginning of March to the 14 currently in place. There has been a reduction of approximately 95% in the use of paper in administrative procedures.

Moreno highlighted the Governing Board’s approval of the extraordinary public sector job vacancies which aim to make temporary posts permanent, in line with Act 20/2021. Likewise, he reported that the extraordinary public sector job vacancies approved by the ULPGC include 6 positions to be filled through a process using both entrance exams and taking into account individual merits, with another 193 filled through a merit-based selection process. Additionally, he mentioned that the specific amendment to the document stipulating information concerning jobs within the university [Relación de Puestos de Trabajo], allowing for the salaries of 128 administration and services staff posts to be made equivalent to their counterparts at the ULL and in the regional government, was published in the Canary Island Official Gazette in May.

He expressed his concern regarding electricity billing and explained that, after the corresponding public tender was unfilled and in the face of the increasing costs of electricity, they brought a proposal to the Dirección General de Planificación y Presupuestos [Directorate General for Planning and Budgeting]. This proposal is for taking the necessary legal measures to allow both universities to record this cost overrun, the ULPGC annual estimate for which is more than 2.4 million euros, as an acceptable deficit.

Regarding the development of work to implement analytical accounting, he reported on membership to the Sistema de Contabilidad Analítica Normalizada para las Organizaciones Administrativas [System for standardised analytical accounting in administrative organisations] (CANOA) programme, based on a standard accounting model that can be customised for each entity, which allows the cost of activities undertaken by different units to be assessed. It also provides information aimed at analysing the use of public resources and facilitating the adoption of decisions regarding the production of goods and services, and setting public fees and rates.

“Spain cannot miss this opportunity to modernise its public university system, for which broad parliamentary consensus is essential in order to improve the draft bill and respond to current and future demands” the chairman of the ULPGC Social Council, Ángel Tristán Pimienta, stated during the extraordinary plenary session held on Thursday to appraise the report on the University System Act (LOSU) draft bill by the Executive Committee of the Conference of Social Councils of Spanish Universities’.

Tristán Pimienta began by stating that, broadly speaking, this draft bill “far from becoming more in line with Europe, distances itself. This should be a law for the university which comes from society, allowing universities to take on their role with assurances, of which perhaps the most important is the future stability and great challenges ahead for Europe and science”. Moreover, he stated that alignment with Europe and especially with the most advanced countries in terms of university reform is an “inescapable goal”. “It is necessary to go in the same direction as the European Union and not against the tide. The future, obviously, is always ahead of us”, he stated.

During his remarks he recalled that on 29^th November 2021 a project undertaken by the OECD entitled ‘Hoja de ruta para la mejora de la transferencia y de la cooperación entre ciencia pública, universidades y empresas’ [Roadmap for improving transfer and cooperation between public science, universities, and businesses] was submitted to the Spanish National Research Council and its conclusions were a requisite starting point for any reform. It was the Spanish government itself, through its Ministry of Science and Innovation and its Ministry of Universities, which asked the European Union Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support for a report. The European Union commissioned the OECD through a competitive tender process and nearly 100 people and institutions were involved.

In his opinion, some of these conclusions are able to act as a ‘compass’. “Nowadays, university governance leaves little room for society to participate in defining universities’ remits, which should emulate the reforms carried out in European countries which have effectively given a voice to external actors in university strategic planning, increasing their levels of institutional autonomy and accountability”.

Regarding Social Councils, Ángel Tristán stated that “their role and skills [must be] genuinely strengthened, in order to ensure they have the sufficient resources and autonomy to fulfil the roles they have acquired”.

In his view, “the unique nature of the system of participation and representation within the Spanish university governance model places the Spanish university system at a disadvantage when responding to current social and economic challenges”. Regarding the ‘new governance’ he said that universities have enough reports pointing in the same direction“some of which talk of the Spanish ‘exception’ as almost like a bubble”.

Tristán Pimienta referenced two highly significant recent studies, one of them ‘La reforma de la gobernanza en los sistemas universitarios europeos’ [Governance reform in European university systems] which analyses and compares the cases of Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, and Portugal – with each other and with Spain – and among whose conclusions it is stated that “a high level of involvement from people outside the university is observed in the university governance of all these countries, generally in supervisory or administrative councils with common responsibilities at their core: approval of the budget and its settlement, approval of the strategic plan, and the appointment of the rector”.

In this report it is also observed that, in the same way that university autonomy has increased regarding resource management, government control has increased at the same time through systems of indicators and target-based funding agreements. “The size of the governing bodies, among them entities which are equivalent to the claustro or senado [the highest representative body], has reduced. As a general rule, the rector is appointed by the governing body and, in some countries, the deans are appointed by the rector”, explained Ángel Tristán.

Regarding a recent CRUE [Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities] document, the 2021 monograph ‘Órganos de gobierno y representación en la Universidad: análisis en el contexto europeo’ [University governing and representative bodies: An analysis in the European context], he said these questions are also addressed. “The reports all recommend the reduction and resizing of collective entities and recommend the creation of a Primary Governing Body, leaving the claustro as an entity which gives advice and opinions regarding both academic questions and strategic courses of action”.

Agreeing with the statements of the Conference of Social Councils’ chairman, Antonio Abril, its executive committee, and its assembly, Tristán Pimienta also believes that “the LOSU draft bill could be a new missed opportunity given that it still does not address the transformation of the current university governance model”.

The highest academic authority could be selected directly or indirectly or otherwise appointed by the new Primary Governing Body, however, “the Subirats Bill not only does not contemplate any of these recommendations, but also aggravates the situation by creating more entities and increasing the size of existing ones. If the vast majority of reports from recent years believe that governance in the Spanish university system is dated and anachronistic, a bubble about to pop, then at the incredibly dynamic and competitive present time, fundamental problems, which are far from a part of the solution, not only remain but also escalate”.

He recalled that the university lecturer Mr Castells had considered two alternative methods for the appointment of rectors: direct election with universal suffrage, which is the current method; and election “by a specific entity” which in practice would fuse the governing board and Social Council. Of the members of this entity, 50% (20-30) would be teaching and research staff, 1% students, 10% administration and services staff, and 30% people from outside the university of academic, cultural, social, business, or institutional renown”.

Tristán Pimienta added that, in its current form, the Subirats Act would be “a permanent source of conflict due to its meeting-oriented nature and the merged power of its internal forces”. He also stressed that in the view of the chairman of the Conference of Social Councils, “we find ourselves with a draft bill that will not do in order to achieve the excellent university system that Spain needs, capable of responding to the demands of a 21^st century higher education public service”.

The chairman of the ULPGC Social Council recalled that the Canary Island Statute of Autonomy provides for important university-related powers and that this region’s Social Councils Act continues to be “the most advanced in Spain”, both in terms of the autonomy of the entity in charge of university government and in terms of the greater powers for internal monitoring under the law, as recognised by the Court of Auditors which has cited us as a national model. “We trust that the region remains committed to its aim for public universities to ‘take a large step forward’ towards Europe” he said during his remarks. He also recalled that paragraph b) of article 134 of the Statute of Autonomy, which is an Organic Law [provided for in the Constitution relating, among other issues, to the implementation of fundamental rights], outlines that “the legal system for the organisation and running of public universities, including governing and representative bodies, is the responsibility of the Canary Islands region, along with many other university-related powers, which is a reason to keep faith”,  Ángel Tristán stated.

Félix Sanz Roldán, chairman of the Universidad de Castilla La Mancha’s Social Council, spoke in the Breakfast Lectures organised by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Social Council.

This event bought together 90 guests, authorities, entrepreneurs, and ULPGC teaching staff who came to the institutional headquarters’ Aula de Piedra to listen to the former director of the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia [Spanish Intelligence Agency] (2009-2019) and former Chief of the Defence Staff (2004-2008), who gave the lecture “Towards a New World Order”.

The chairman of the ULPGC Social Council, Ángel Tristán, introduced the guest speaker and during his remarks stated that we are “terrified by Russian cruelty in Ukraine. We no longer live in a world of certainty, but rather one of uncertainty, plagued by fear. The Russian foreign minister, Lavrov, says he does not rule out a Third World War. And I think of Albert Einstein when he said that he did not know what a Third World War would be like, ‘I only know that the fourth will be fought with sticks and stones’. I don’t know if soldiers experience the same, but many nights I need to take Lexatin in order to sleep”, he added.

Tristán Pimienta explained that the University can do many things in order to understand this conflict, as “our role is to think, to study, to research, to debate, albeit without a reduction in teaching”. He also explained that it was at the general assembly of the Conferencia de Consejos Sociales de las Universidades Españolas [ Conference of Social Councils of Spanish Universities] that he ran into General Félix Sanz Roldán, “an enlightened soldier, a wise and good-natured man with a notable quality – which I will be honest General and say I have taken advantage of– that he is delighted to participate in all forums where he can impart his knowledge on all areas related to defence, security, and intelligence”.

For this Breakfast Lecture the tables were named after Ukrainian regions, in solidarity with the situation the country is experiencing in the face of Russian invasion. Sanz Roldán spoke precisely about this issue and said that when the conflict ends, Russia must be treated as a ‘political pariah’ given that, when the new order begins, it will be necessary to ask who will do business with Russia”.

Félix Sanz Roldán said that in his speeches he always talks about a book that he has often consulted frequently: “Diplomacy” by Henry Kissinger, “who was a historian and diplomat and can illuminate the topic of international relations, a euphemism for diplomacy”. In the book he explains, among other issues, that “while we search for a new concept of world order within which to live safely, the only thing we find is the creation of conflicts out of human control”.

He recalled that “since 12^th August 2021 we have had two world orders and we are on the brink of having a third, but we have called all of these the new order, tallying with what Henry Kissinger said: that every new order is short-lived”.

He defined order as the balance of power. However, the long definition would be that “order has been used in multiple political units, generally States, which do not have the sufficient strength to defeat the rest, living under contradictory philosophies or different internal practices for which rules, that they respect, have been created to regulate their conduct ”.

In his opinion, “the origin of all this is the treaty of Westphalia, the most quoted historical document when talking about world order which is also quoted nowadays when talking about the armed conflict in Ukraine, as the signing of this treaty in 1648 recognised national sovereignty, the inviolability of boarders, and national interest”.

“But, there is also the Helsinki Act passed in Madrid in 1975, which is currently in force and which is the document that I have most championed during my life, especially in the NATO negotiating committee. This document talks of open trade, the rules for conflict resolution, and some limits regarding the waging of war and, in this way, we have had a certain sense of order”, he stated. During his assessment of the current world order he said that the world has become smaller, “but the number of spheres has been growing and clashes are almost inevitable”.

He highlighted that the first rapprochement between the USA and China after many years with no contact took place in 1971. “And nowadays, with the arrival of the technological revolution, the world is very small and there is nothing that politics can hide from people, we are experiencing the continuous movement of spheres, in a world experiencing many changes, which Félix Sanz summarises as ‘the fight for power’”.

Regarding matters which generate instability, there are “populisms, as there are those who go as far as to say that I can solve problems in one minute and I don’t need the law” and also the use of disinformation as a destabilising element. “Cybersecurity is a very cheap and discrete weapon”, he added.

During his remarks he recalled that on 12^th August 2021 the Unites States withdrew from Afghanistan as they said that they did not want to be a leading figure in world order, but they have had to return to Europe in the face of the Russian offensive in order to lead the resolution of another military problem.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, he commented that nothing justifies the killing of women, children or the elderly, or the cases of torture. “This is a terrible war and however long it lasts it will be the beginning of a new order and everything points at it being long as the people of Ukraine are going to do everything they can to defend themselves ”. In a meeting of 193 countries, 140 denounced Russia, but only 37 showed their support for imposing sanctions. That is to say, that 156 countries are not willing to sanction Russia.

“When all is said and done, what will remain is a ‘bipolar world led by the development of new technologies, dominated only by the USA and China. China does not want to raise its flag anywhere but does wish to open shops. And nor can it do so with someone who has levelled a country”, he stated.

Regarding the use of nuclear weapons, Sanz Roldán explained that “they emerged so that some could not use power against others, but never have nuclear weapons been thought of as a fundamental element in an attack. However, they are now making us think that this is possible. During the management of this crisis, the rhetoric increased so much that there came a moment when it became inevitable that Putin would have to do something. I cannot process what the world will be like after a nuclear explosion and that is why I prefer to make every effort to avoid it”.

In each edition of this social and cultural initiative, the ULPGC Social Council invites prominent figures within the national and international university sphere to address a current issue or an issue related to the role and objectives of higher education institutions in Spain, with the aim of strengthening their presence and position within society.

To conclude, Ángel Tristán read out the questions and issues put forward by those invited, which they had previously written on cards, to which Sanz Roldán responded with the discretion which characterise him as a former head of the CNI.

The Alumni Association [Asociación Alumni] officially got underway after its introduction in an event chaired by the ULPGC rector, Lluís Serra, which was also attended by the Canary Island government’s director general of universities, Manuel Ramírez Sánchez; the chairman of the ULPGC Social Council, Ángel Tristán Pimienta; the Social Council secretary, Miguel Ángel Acosta; the vice-rector for students, alumni and employability, David Sánchez; and the vice-rector for communication and community outreach, Suny Beerli. This is in addition to other Alumni Association post holders and representatives of the Student Council, professional bodies, and the Fundación Universitaria Las Palmas, among others. The launch took place in the Tafira campus’ Nexo building, where the Association’s headquarters will be located.

The rector highlighted that the Alumni Association “symbolises connection, responsibility, and cooperation; connection because our University’s friends and graduates remain united within this association, responsibility because the alumni must be a model for our students, an image of what they can come to achieve, and cooperation because launching the Association has required a coordinated effort from the rector’s office, the Social Council, and the Association”.

The chairman of the Social Council, Ángel Tristán Pimienta, who is also on Alumni España’s advisory council, recalled how in 2017 he took part in a national alumni meeting, held in the University of La Laguna and speaking there pledged to create a ULPGC alumni association in only six months “and that’s what happened”. By the same token, in reference to former students, he stated that the experience that the worlds of work and business can share is incredibly important. “Once they have left university they realise that the world is very tough, that they will have to fend for themselves and that they will have to keep learning”. In this way, he highlighted how the members of the Alumni Association will, based on their experience, be able to talk to students about “embarking on their path through determination and sacrifice and using their influence within the business sector to obtain additional funding for the University”.

Sixto Martín, chairman of the Alumni Association, thanked the rectorate team, Social Council, and the association’s governing board for their effort to launch this initiative, after a few years during which the Alumni Association has not been immune to the obstacles caused by the extraordinary situations we have experienced. Moreover, he emphasised that “we are an association which is open to Canary Island society, which aims to be an active channel between the ULPGC, graduates, friends of the University, businesses, professional bodies, and other organisations”.

During the event, the Alumni Association appointed its first ‘ambassadors’, notable ULPGC graduates who can be an example and an inspiration to the university community: the physicist and scientific communicator, Javier Santaolalla, who attended the event, and the chair of the Asociación Heroikka de Mujeres Emprendadoras, Maica Gil, who participated via video link from San Francisco (United States).

Concluding the event was the Canary Island government’s director general of universities, Manuel Ramírez, who congratulated the Association on its drive and initiative and reminded of its connection to the founding of the ULPGC, which was created due to the effort of a whole grassroots movement.

The ULPGC Alumni Association is a private non-profit entity which unites graduates, former students, and friends of the University with the intention of serving as an channel between them, strengthening their relationships through promoting different activities. Its aim is to stimulate ongoing contact between the University and its former students, and to also obtain a rich and diverse network of contacts for them. Moreover, it offers a constant stream of information and privileged access to the lifelong learning provided by the ULPGC and adapted to the changes which emerge in current understanding and professional activities.

Team ‘Damocles’, made up of ULPGC law degree students, was crowned the winner of the 14^th ULPGC Debate League, organised by the ULPGC Social Council in cooperation with the Vice-rectorate for Students, Alumni and Employability.

‘Damocles’ earned victory after facing ‘Odisea’ in a close final held in the Economics, Business, and Tourism Faculty’s auditorium (Tafira Campus). In addition, the judging panel decided that the Best Speaker prize would go to Ismael Hernández (‘Damocles’) and gave a special mention to the speakers Carla Coba (‘Odisea’) and Raquel Pérez (‘Gaia’).

For 34 minutes each team had to debate this edition’s question, which responds to the situation created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “Should the European Union develop its own defence system?”, with one in favour and the other against.

Making up team ‘Damocles’ were Ana Doreste, Ismael Hernández, Lucía Tejera (captain), Ainhoa Dávila, and Anabel Ojeda. The winners received a financial prize of €1,000 and will represent the ULPGC in the National University Debate League to be held this year. The second-place team, which received a prize of €500, consisted of Carla Coba  (cpatain), Ysleduy Mundaray, Joel Godoy, and Youness El Mousaoui. The Best Speaker, Ismael Hernández, recieved a 150 euro prize.

‘Damocles’ earned victory, at the discretion of the judges, after three intense days of encounters between the ten participating teams, 9 of which were formed by ULPGC students with one guest team of students from the Universidad Fernando Pessoa de Canarias.

Attending the awards ceremony were the rector of the ULPGC, Lluís Serra Majem, along with Angel Tristán Pimienta, the chairman of the ULPGC Social Council who congratulated all the participants and confirmed the support of the academic institution which heads up the organisation of new editions of this debate league. The main aim of the league is to encourage dialogue and public debate among university students, grounded in teamwork for the research and analysis of the topic for debate. “These debates promote among students the art of  speaking, dialectic, and debating skills, along with critical thinking. These have become the cornerstones of university education,” stated Tristán Pimienta.

On the judging panel for the Final Debate were: Marian Álvarez (journalist), Miguel Guedes (head of Canarias Radio La Autonómica), Vicente Llorca (deputy head of Canarias7), Betsaida Gónzalez Rodríguez (head of the Gabinete de la Delegación del Gobierno de España en Canarias [office of the central Spanish government delegation in the Canary Islands]), Josué Iñiguez Otero (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city councillor for security and emergencies), Ignacio García Marina (civil servant with the Cuerpo General de Administradores de la Comunidad Autónoma [The Canary Island’s General Administration Corps]), Ciro Gutiérrez Ascanio (Lecturer [Profesor Contratado Doctoro] in evolutionary and educational psychology at the ULPGC and the ULPGC head of sustainability), Antonio María Martín Rodríguez (Professor [Catedrático de Universidad] of Latin language and literature and head of the ULPGC publishing service), and Alejandra Sanjuán Hernán-Pérez (Senior Lecturer [Profesora Titular] in cartographic, geodetic, and photogrammetric engineering).

The Final Debate will begin at 19:00 with the awards ceremony at 20:30.

The qualification round of the 14^th edition of the ULPGC University Debate League began on Tuesday in the Economics, Business, and Tourism Faculty. Ten teams of ULPGC students, including a guest team from the Universidad Fernando Pessoa de Canarias, took part. The University Debate League is organised by the ULPGC Social Council in cooperation with the Vice-rectorate for Students, Alumni and Employability.

In the Final Debate, to take place this Thursday, the two groups of finalists will face each other and will have to debate, for 34 minutes, this edition’s question which responds to the situation created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “Should the European Union develop its own defence system?”.

The semi-finals will begin at 17:30 to decide the two teams that will face each other in the Final Debate at 19:00. The event will be broadcast live on the ULPGC YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaProui1gnY) and will be open to the public in the Economics, Business, and Tourism Faculty’s auditorium (Tafira Campus).

The rector of the ULPGC, Lluís Serra Majem, and the chairman of the ULPGC Social Council, Angel Tristán Pimienta, will attend the awards ceremony at 20:30.

The judging panel for the Final Debate will be made up of ULPGC professionals, journalists and people with experience in public speaking, and experts on the debate topic. The winning team of the ULPGC University Debate League will receive 1,000 euros, the runners up will receive 500 euros, and the best speaker from the league – decided by the judging panel – will receive a 150 euro prize. Moreover, the winning team will represent the ULPGC in a national competition.

The judging panel will be made up of ULPGC members, journalists and people with experience in public speaking, and experts on the debate topic.

Ten teams of ULPGC students – including a guest team from the Universidad Fernando Pessoa de Canarias – will participate in the 14th edition of the ULPGC University Debate League.

The teams will face each other from 5th to 7th April to debate the question: “Should the European Union develop its own defence system?”, with one team in favour and the other against. The question chosen for this edition, the advantage of which has been outlined by various European Union members, responds to the situation created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The debate league is organised by the ULPGC Social Council in cooperation with the Vice-rectorate for Students, Alumni and Employability. The 2020 and 2021 editions were unable to take place due to the situation brought about by Covid-19. The qualifying rounds, semi-finals, and grand final will be held in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Economics and Business Studies Building (Tafira University Campus).

The ten teams, which have 34 minutes to debate the topical issue, are as follows: ‘Odisea’, ‘Sócrates’, ‘Damocles’, ‘Atípico’, ‘Visto para sentencia’, ‘Gaia’, ‘Liber’, ‘Aliena’, ‘Famara’ (Escuela Universitaria de Lanzarote-ULPGC), and the guest team from the Universidad Fernando Pessoa de Canarias (Santa María de Guía).

The judging panel will be made up of ULPGC professionals, journalists and people with experience in public speaking, and experts on the debate topic. The winning team of the ULPGC University Debate League will receive 1,000 euros, the runners up will receive 500 euros, and the best speaker from the league – decided by the judging panel – will receive a 150 euro prize. Moreover, the winning team will represent the ULPGC in a national competition.

The 14th University Debate League will begin on Tuesday and Wednesday (5th and 6th April) with the qualifying rounds and quarter-finals. Thursday (7th April) will see the semi-finals (17:30), during which the teams to face each other in the grand final (19:00) will be decided. The final will be broadcast live on the ULPGC’s channels and will be open to the public in the Economics, Business, and Tourism Faculty’s auditorium (Tafira Campus).

The regional minister for education and universities, Manuela Armas, and regional minister for social rights, Noemí Santana, will attend the awards ceremony at 20:30, alongside the chairman of the ULPGC Social Council, Angel Tristán, and the rector, Lluís Serra Majem.

The topical issue to debate will be, “Should the European Union develop its own defence system?”

The ULPGC Social Council, in collaboration with the Vice-rectorate for Students, Alumni and Employability, has organised the 14th edition of the ULPGC University Debate League, which will be held from the 5th to the 7th April in the Economics and Business Studies Building and registration for which opens on Tuesday 8th March and closes on 21st March. The ULPGC is the Spanish public university to have held the most Debate Leagues.

The aim of the ULPGC University Debate League is to encourage dialogue and public debate among university students as an exercise in harmony and tolerance and in the development of personal skills regarding research, analysis, oral expression, listening skills, teamwork, and timely response.

The topical issue participating teams will debate and argue dialectically will be, “Should the European Union develop its own defence system?”. Teams can register through the ULPGC Social Council website, where there is a form to be completed by all members of each team and the competition rules which will govern this league. These can be accessed via: https://csocial.ulpgc.es/iniciativas/liga-debate-universitario/

The motive behind the question for this edition is the current situation in Ukraine in light of Russia’s military invasion. This is because the world is looking on in shock and fear as Russian troops invade Ukraine, in a war – already dubbed “Putin’s war” – launched behind the backs of Russians subjected to a strict censorship and disinformation campaign. Apart from being cruel to the Ukrainian people, this breaches the political order and security of Europe, bringing the continent to the edge of the abyss. Ukraine is a sovereign state which has exercised its legitimate right to freedom and is a member of the UN and other international organisations. In view of these events, we pose a topical question regarding how the European Union should act in light of Russian aggression and if the development of its own defence system, which does not depend on NATO or the USA, is desirable.

The judging panel will be made up of staff members from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and others who have experience in public speaking and on the topic of debate. The winning team of the ULPGC University Debate League will receive 1,000 euros, the runners up will receive 500 euros, and the best speaker from the league – decided by the judging panel – will receive a 150 euro prize.

The ULPGC University Debate League entails a series of debates held between participating teams, as in a sports league. The debate opens with the comparison of arguments by the teams involved, one in favour and the other against, regarding the topic chosen in each edition and with certain time and style constraints.

As society’s participatory body within the University, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Social Council promotes the debate league in its interest to provide activities that allow students to make progress in acquiring transferable skills such as critical thinking, public debate and comparison of ideas, in addition to searching for arguments which support them.

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Social Council, with the cooperation of the University’s Doctoral School, have published a definitive list of the doctoral students who will receive 1,200 euros in financial aid for mobility outside the Canary Islands during their research.

The amount allocated for this financial aid totals 31,200 euros to be divided among the 26 grants awarded, with the aim of fostering mobility during the undertaking of research and doctoral student visits, of at least one month, to other universities and research centres from outside the Canary Islands, in addition to the participation of these ULPGC students in conferences or other types of scientific meetings which contribute to increasing interaction with national and international specialists, with the aim of presenting their doctoral research results.

Applications were submitted to this ULPGC Social Council call for grant applications by a total of 67 students who met its criteria, such as being in at least the second year of their doctorate and also having a minimum average grade. The Social Council has allocated these grants to research work undertaken in all the ULPGC doctoral programmes.

The ULPGC Social Council is funding these grants due to the importance it places on the education of doctoral students, enabling, in this way, their future professional and research paths and improving the internationalisation of the ULPGC. These grants are compatible with others awarded by the State, regional governments, or the ULPGC, except when these are for undertaking doctoral visits outside of the Canary Islands during the same period as that funded by this grant.

Puss here if you want read the resolucion.