THE SOCIAL COUNCILS AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE CANARY ISLAND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ACT
Adapting to the legislation governing social councils as established by the University Act of 21st December [Ley Orgánica 6/2001] provided an opportune moment in which to increase the role played by the Social Council as a channel for communication between Canary Island society and its universities and to bring them closer together.
The Social Council is a university body which brings together representative elements of Canary Island society, alongside its academic members, with the aim of heightening their involvement in university life.
Thus, the 11/2003 Act of 4th April, modified by the 5/2009 Act of 24th April, establishes the mandate of the Canary Island social councils, their composition, operation, and their financial and budgetary system.
Following the passing of the 11/2003 Act of 4th April on Social Councils and the Organisation of the Canary Island University System and as decreed by the third point of the first of the final provisions of the same, during the plenary session on 3rd March 2004 the ULPGC Social Council passed its own regulations concerning its organisation and administration.
Article 82 of the University Act [Ley Orgánica de Universidades] establishes the control of university investments, expenses and income through the corresponding auditing techniques and under the supervision of the social councils. Therefore, the Social Councils and the Organisation of the Canary Island University System Act establishes the subordination of the ULPGC Internal Monitoring Department’s personnel with respect to the Social Council. Furthermore, to carry out supervisory tasks the Regulations concerning the Organisation and Administration of the Social Council provide for the creation of the ULPGC Audit Committee. This committee’s operation is developed through its own regulations.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE INTERNAL MONITORING DEPARTMENT
Article 38c of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Regulations concerning the Organisation and Administration of the Social Council declare that the Social Council should pass Regulations concerning the Internal Monitoring Department. As a minimum, this regulation should address the auditing techniques, processes and scope of the Department, in addition to the processes employed in monitoring and evaluating the Department.
In addition to that mentioned above, this regulation also facilitates the techniques to be implemented by the Internal Monitoring Department in order to verify that the administrative undertakings of the ULPGC adhere to the principles of economy, efficacy and efficiency; thus guaranteeing the correct administration of public funds, including the necessary provision of information or implementation of codes of conduct.
The University Act 6/2001 of 21st December, modified by Act 4/2007 of 12th April which entered into effect on 3rd May 2007 (along with other specific modifications), establishes the responsibilities and autonomy of Spanish universities, their legal system, their structure, and their representative and governing bodies.
Consolidated text.Last updated: 28th June 2017.
The ULPGC Social Council is given special mention in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Charter.
Specifically, in Title 2 of the Charter, which makes reference to the ULPGC representative and governing bodies, and Section 2 (Article 63), which defines the Social Council as one of the ULPGC’s decision-making bodies.
In Section 3 (Articles 66-69) the roles and responsibilities of the ULPGC Social Council are specified.
REGULATIONS FOR ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE STUDYING AT THE ULPGC
Article 46.3 of the University Act [Ley Orgánica de Universidades] grants the Social Council the power to approve rules concerning the academic progression and the right to continue for those students studying at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), following a report from the University Council. To this end, the UPGC Social Council plenary met on 26th November 2012, in view of the report published by the University Council. At this meeting they passed regulations with very concrete objectives: to conclude the process of bringing all the University’s official qualifications in line with the European Higher Education Area, to be more efficient in the number of students graduating from the University, and to hold students responsible for the use of resources that society allocates to their education.
REGULATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RULES CONCERNING ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE STUDYING AT THE ULPGC
The aim of this regulation is the development of that outlined in article 5.3 of the Regulations for Academic Progression and the Right to Continue Studying at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Among other issues, this regulation establishes the way in which the duration of study programmes is assigned and the criteria which a student must satisfy in order to qualify for part-time study.
COMPILATION OF UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION
The ULPGC Social Council has seen fit to bring together, in hard copy and in an electronic format, all the legislation derived from article 27 item 10 of the Spanish Constitution, from the University Act to the most relevant by-laws, regulations, rules, and verdicts which regulate the governance and administration of public universities in the Canary Islands.
