The DGA will allocate 8,2 million more to the University of Zaragoza for the fight against covid

The University of Zaragoza will immediately receive 8,2 million from the Government of Aragon to save "the delicate situation" in which the finances of the public campus find themselves after the expenses incurred by the health crisis. Some "amounts and commitments", as highlighted by the Minister of Science, University and Knowledge Society, Maru Díaz, that were already contemplated in the contract-program and that, therefore, the Department had to pay at some point. "Given the complicated liquidity situation, we understood that we had to respond urgently," she clarified.

The university campus has recently valued the expenses caused, so far, by covid-19 at nearly three million. Accounts that will increase in the coming months and to which is also added the decrease in income, both state and own funds. The decrease in enrollment, the increase in scholarships and other similar amounts may be maintained with this agreement. "The 8,2 million coincide with the 8,3 million debt that we had reduced in recent years. They put us back at square one," highlighted the acting rector, José Antonio Mayoral, who thanked the Government of Aragón responds so early and "before the end of the year" to the request for help made by the campus.

The counselor explained that these funds are added to the transfer agreed at the beginning of the year. "That item could not be touched and now these 8,2 million euros are added," she emphasized. She has stated that these amounts are also not related to the covid funds that come from the Government of Spain. These incomes, she has detailed, have made it possible to sustain the budgets planned for the public campus despite the decrease in income in this year. An aspect that the acting rector has highlighted: "I prefer that additional income not be conditional, since it is difficult to justify certain items when there has been a decrease in income and an increase in expenses in several. This decision allows us to act in a more flexible way. ".

Maru has highlighted that the Government of Aragon's commitment with this item is to offer "a different solution to the crisis", based on investment in universities and research, instead of these areas being the "great pagans of the cuts". For this reason, he pointed out that it was key to make this transfer of 8,2 million euros, which will allow the University of Zaragoza to continue providing its services and carrying out its research work "without seeing quality diminished." He has also advanced that next year's regional Executive budgets will include an increase, although he has not detailed how much.

Mayoral has acknowledged that he would have asked for more money, but has stressed that, in this situation, the Government of Aragon must also face many other "major" problems. He has emphasized that this and the agreements of recent years have been possible thanks to the "constant dialogue" of the teams that make up the Department and the Rectorate.