New programme agreement 2023-2026

In this context, with the passing of the years and the consolidation of the university project, the links with the Catalan Government have been strengthened and tightened, to the point of positioning the UVic-UCC as another agent in the Catalan University System. This relationship of recognition and trust is shown in the presence and participation of the Catalan Government in the governing bodies of the UVic-UCC, as part of the Board of Trustees of its titular entity, the Balmes University Foundation. It is also shown in the successive programme agreements that the government has signed with the aforementioned foundation, the first of which dates back to 2002. Through these agreements, the government has contributed to the stability and growth of the university and the development of its strategic projects.

This November, after a period of extensions since the previous agreement expired in 2018, the UVic-UCC and the Catalan Government have signed a new programme agreement, the fifth, for the period 2023-2026. The new agreement was signed with the Balmes University Foundation and includes the Vic Campus. It puts the university’s public funding at 13,050,000 euros a year, a figure that represents close to 25% of its budget.

Progressive growth

The previous agreement, signed in 2015 and valid until 2018, established an annual contribution of 7,300,000 euros. Since 2019, the Catalan Government funding received by the UVic-UCC through a transfer has increased progressively. In 2022, the initial contribution ended up being 10,700,000 euros, although later, and as part of the negotiation of the new program agreement, the figure was increased to 12,050,000 euros.

The financing of the programme agreement is divided between the University’s ordinary expenses and capital expenditure, that is, its investments. Out of the 13,050,000 euros per year, 12,550,000 correspond to ordinary expenses (and 10% of this funding is linked to the achievement of established objectives), while the other 500,000 correspond to capital expenditure. The agreement also establishes that the planned resources may increase in successive years in accordance with the Catalan Government’s budget availability and the National Pact for the Knowledge Society, which foresees a progressive and continuous increase in public investment in universities.

Outside of the programme agreement, it is foreseen that the government will contribute to the financing of the BETA Technology Centre, and allocate around 400,000 euros for the basic funding of research within the framework of a Grant for the Promotion of the Research from the Department of Research and Universities.

Long-term growth and stability

“The new programme agreement gives UVic-UCC long-term financial stability, which it has not had for a long time and towards which it was working,” said President of the Board of Trustees of the Balmes University Foundation (FUBalmes) and Mayor of Vic, Albert Castells. Castells considers that it also “reinforces and tightens ties with the Catalan Government and demonstrates this government’s commitment to UVic-UCC as another agent of the Catalan University System, a key element for the country’s territorial balance, and a generator of new opportunities for young people, especially in central Catalonia.” The President of FUBalmes noted that “the new agreement is the result of a long, thorough negotiation process, in which various governments have participated and many people from the university. It required many hours of work, a joint effort and great willingness of all parties.”

According to the rector of the UVic-UCC, Josep Eladi Baños “this agreement is an element of great importance for the internal cohesion of the university. At the same time, it allows the planning of actions of enormous relevance in this moment of change for the System Catalan University.” Baños pointed out that UVic-UCC has changed substantially since the previous agreement was signed in 2015: "In these eight years, three new foundations have been fully incorporated, research has grown significantly and student numbers have increased in all areas,” stated the rector. He also noted, “to maintain this situation, the university needs to have stable resources that allow it to make the investments required to secure its future, which the current programme agreement will provide for the next four years.”

The General Director of FUBalmes, Jordi Baiget, considers that the agreement is highly satisfactory for the UVic-UCC because the stability it provides “guarantees the right working framework to continue developing projects that were underway and to promote new ones in a context of solidity.” Secondly, he pointed out, “the agreement establishes the highest minimum public funding levels for the institution in the thirteen years of programme agreements with the Catalan Government, and therefore signifies very positive growth and evolution.” Baiget also noted that the agreement recognises the work done by the UVic-UCC over the years.

Like all the previous agreements, this programme agreement is limited to a set of strategic objectives of the UVic-UCC in the areas of teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and in the organization, structure and management of the institution. These objectives include the consolidation of an offering of official degrees that is strengthened within the Catalan University System; the development of its own unique model of training with a focus on competences, the employability of graduates and international attraction; the promotion of quality research and alliances with leading research centres; and the promotion of knowledge transfer that contributes to the socio-economic development of the territorial environment.