UVic-UCC and the Government of Catalonia sign a new programme agreement that defines the framework of their relationship for the next four years

The University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) and the Government of Catalonia have reached an agreement to sign a new programme agreement covering the period between 2023 and 2026. This new agreement, which like its predecessors includes the Balmes University Foundation (FUBalmes), places the public funding of the University at 13,050,000 Euros per year, a figure that will amount to almost 25% of its budget.  

The annual contribution in the previous agreement, which was signed in 2015 and ran until 2018, amounted to 7,300,000 Euros. The funding from the Government of Catalonia received by UVic-UCC, which was provided in the form of transfers, had gradually increased since 2019. The initial contribution in 2022 amounted to 10,700,000 Euros, although as part of the negotiations for the new programme agreement, the final figure was 12,050,000 Euros. 

The funding from the programme agreement is divided between the University's ordinary expenses and capital expenses, or in other words, investments. Accordingly, 12,550,000 Euros of the 13,050,000 Euros every year are allocated to the former category (and 10% of this funding is linked to the achievement of established objectives), while the other 500,000 Euros are for the latter. The agreement also stipulates that the funds may increase in subsequent years depending on the budgetary availability of the Government of Catalonia and the National Pact for the Knowledge Society, which provides for a progressive and continuous increase in public investment in universities. 

Long-term growth and stability  

"The new programme agreement provides UVic-UCC with long-term financial stability, which it had not had for a long time and which was something we were working towards," says the president of the Board of Trustees of the Balmes University Foundation (FUBalmes) and the mayor of Vic Albert Castells. According to Castells, it also "reinforces and enhances ties with the Government of Catalonia, and demonstrates its commitment to UVic-UCC as an agent within the Catalan university system, as a key player in the country's territorial balance, and as a generator of new opportunities for young people, especially in central Catalonia." The president of the FUBalmes recalled that "the new agreement has been the result of a long and meticulous process of negotiation involving various government bodies on the one hand, and many people from the University on the other, and it has required many hours of work, combined efforts and a very positive attitude from all the parties involved." 

According to the rector of UVic-UCC, Josep Eladi Baños, "this agreement is very important for the University's internal cohesion, and at the same time it lets us plan decisively important initiatives at this time of great change for the university system of Catalonia." Baños points out that UVic-UCC has changed significantly since the previous agreement was signed in 2015: "the past eight years have entailed the full incorporation of three new foundations, the significant growth in research and the increase of students in all areas," said the rector, who maintained that "in order to sustain this situation, the University needs have stable resources that enable it to make the investments it needs to secure its future, and which the current programme agreement will provide for the next four years." 

The general manager of the Balmes University Foundation, Jordi Baiget, believes that the agreement is very satisfactory for UVic-UCC because the stability it provides "guarantees an appropriate working framework to continue carrying out projects that were under way and undertaking new ones in a stable environment." He also pointed out that "the agreement establishes the highest minimum levels of public funding for the institution in thirteen years of programme agreements with the Government of Catalonia, and therefore represents a very positive trend in growth and evolution." Baiget also considers the agreement to be recognition of the work done by UVic-UCC over the years.  

Like all its predecessors, this programme agreement is limited to a series of strategic objectives for UVic-UCC in the areas of teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and the institution's organisation, structure and management. These objectives include the consolidation of a range of official qualifications that is reinforced within the Catalan university system; the development of its own unique training model, with a particular focus on competences, graduate employability and international appeal; engaging in high quality research and partnerships with leading research centres, and promoting knowledge transfer that contributes to the socio-economic development of the surrounding region.  

The fifth programme agreement since 2002 

This is the fifth programme agreement that UVic-UCC has signed with the Government of Catalonia. The first was signed in 2002, in Ricard Torrents' final year as rector, and was initially planned to cover only 2002 and 2003. It established the initial framework for stable relations between the two institutions, and led to the preparation of the first strategic plan for the University. This plan led to the signing of a second agreement in the following year, which was the first to cover a longer term. 

The second agreement, which was in force from 2003 to 2007, took effect on 14 May 2003, with David Serrat as rector of what was then the University of Vic, and Jacint Codina as president of the FUBalmes Board of Trustees. Its objectives were to increase the range of qualifications offered, strengthen the organisational structure serving the university community, and enhance the various support services for teaching, such as the library and services related to new information and communication technologies. Like all the agreements that followed it, part of the public contribution was subject to the achievement of the commitments stipulated. In overall terms, it established initial funding levels of 2,400,000 Euros in the first year. This funding increased every year, and reached a contribution of just over 6 million Euros in 2007. 

After the second agreement expired, and after a brief deadlock in negotiations, the third agreement was signed on 17 December 2009, in the middle of the term of Assumpta Fargas as rector, and with Josep Maria Vila d'Abadal as president of the FUBalmes Board of Trustees. That agreement, which covered the period between 2009 and 2012, established funding of 8,800,000 Euros, which increased to 11,300,000 Euros by the time the agreement came to the end of its term. On that occasion, the primary objectives established for the period were linked to the ongoing roll-out of the range of bachelor's degree and postgraduate qualifications adapted to the needs of society, establishing alliances with other Catalan and European universities, promoting research in the areas of specialisation at UVic, and promoting both doctoral programmes and scientific production, among other areas.  

Finally, and after another brief impasse, the fourth programme agreement for what had then become UVic-UCC was signed on 23 December 2015, with Jordi Montaña as rector and Anna Erra as president of the FUBalmes. That agreement covered the period between 2015 and 2018, and was based on annual funding of 7,400,000 Euros. The agreement included promoting internationalisation, promoting regional social and economic development, becoming an agent for balance in the surrounding area, and developing the University's own unique teaching model, among other major challenges.