LOGROÑO, June 12. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The University of La Rioja has demanded from the Parliament of La Rioja a “calm” analysis and a “responsible” reflection regarding the request of the International University of La Rioja (UNIR) to “be able to provide studies in all teaching modalities.”
In a statement, the UR wanted to respond to the news that appeared in the media about UNIR’s request, to the different Rioja parliamentary groups, to request the modification of the law creating UNIR and allow “it to provide teaching in all possible modalities, including blended and in-person.”
They have expressed “deep disappointment and deep discomfort with UNIR for not having opened a channel of dialogue with the University of La Rioja.” We understand and are convinced that, “given the importance of the request expressed by UNIR, all parliamentary groups will want to know what the opinion and position of the public university of La Rioja is, as well as the consequences that this decision will have for the future of the university.” public higher education of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja”.
When the creation of UNIR was approved, “this was based on the characteristics declared by this university (virtual, online and non-face-to-face university) and its low impact on the public offer of higher education.” In the UNIR statement, its rector emphasizes that “UNIR must have the possibility of providing face-to-face and hybrid teaching in those studies that require it due to various circumstances.”
These studies “are, among others, medicine, nursing, degrees in early childhood and primary education or the master’s degree in teaching; all of them currently taught by the University of La Rioja, or in the process of implementation, as is the case of medicine “.
NECESSARY RESOURCES
Parliament “should prioritize the provision of necessary resources so that there can be a public offer of sufficient quality of these qualifying qualifications in essential professions, compared to a private face-to-face offer.”
They recalled that all parliamentary groups approved the ‘Pact for the University of La Rioja’ in May 2019. Along these lines, it would be desirable for the Parliament of La Rioja “instead of betting on the presence of the private university to approve in the Law of Urgent Administrative and Budgetary Measures to improve the provision of public services in La Rioja a package of financial aid to improve the teaching and research infrastructure of the public university of La Rioja and to offer more higher education places at public prices, facilitating access to higher education for all Rioja residents regardless of the economic level of their families; since it is a Law for the provision of public services in La Rioja”.
In any case, under no circumstances should the Parliament of La Rioja approve this request from the UNIR “without previously setting the limits that protect the rights of the Rioja men and women of access to quality higher public education in their autonomous community.”
“We hope that, unlike when the UNIR was created, on this occasion there will be the necessary conversations with each and every one of the public and political entities that allow a real and serene coexistence of the higher education institutions in La Rioja (University of La Rioja, UNIR and attached center of the UNED). All of this involves, among other issues, making clear what the frame of reference of each of them is in the areas of present and future degrees, the type of delivery of said degrees. teaching and to whom it is directed” has highlighted the Riojan university.
They have added that “if it is not UNIR’s intention to provide face-to-face teaching in La Rioja, it would be important that, if this proposal is approved, it be included in the Law.”
The UNIR proposal represents a “substantial change” in the nature of this private institution and has “a great impact on the higher education ecosystem of La Rioja, the consequences of which must necessarily be evaluated.”
Therefore, the statement of the Parliament of La Rioja must be based “on an analysis and a responsible, calm reflection in which all the agents involved participate, among which is the University of La Rioja.”
For the UR “the urgency with which the UNIR and the parliamentary groups have met on Saint Barnabas’ Day is surprising.” “The haste with which the Popular Party registers an amendment to the proposed law to update the teaching modalities of the UNIR is even more striking, as reflected in its statement today, June 12, just the day after that UNIR would meet with the parliamentary groups on Saint Barnabas Day to present this proposal,” they concluded.
