The Senate approves the Rector's report on the governance action of the UAB

The rector's report included different information regarding the stabilisation of UAB staff, such as the incorporation of 173 teaching posts and the additional increase of 194 posts planned for 2024, the commitment to review the process for the provision of posts and competitions for substitute teaching staff and the receipt of approximately one million euros for the shock plan for administrative staff. Lafuente reported on other issues affecting the university community, such as the creation of the Equality and Diversity Service, which will provide intersectional attention to the student body, and the presentation of a new proposal in reference to the so-called "retirement award" which, he said, is expected to have the authorisation of the Government of Catalonia. On this issue, the Board of Technical, Management, Administrative and Service Staff had called for a demonstration at the Rectorat building, which concluded with the reading of a declaration at the beginning of the Senate meeting.

With regard to teaching, research and transfer activities, the rector reported on initiatives and projects such as the new transversal training model of challenge-based training in the framework of the ECIU University project, the pioneering development of a training model based on micro-credentials, the launch of a call for the acquisition of new scientific equipment with a budget of 500,000 euros, the participation in the Horizon Europe programme with 24 million euros signed in 2023 and the attraction of resources worth more than five million euros from spin-off companies. 000 euros, the participation in the Horizon Europe programme with 24 million euros signed in 2023, and the attraction of resources worth more than five million euros from UAB spin-off companies.

The report included other institutional actions such as the implementation of the new corporate image of the UAB, the creation of climate shelters with the planting of 350 trees and the increase in actions dedicated to improving the level of sustainability of the campus, which will represent 55% of the University Investment Plan (PIU) in 2024. In addition, the rector used his speech to refer to the current conflict in the Gaza Strip and reiterated "our support for the United Nations, which has insistently advocated compliance with international law by all actors in the conflict, its peaceful resolution and the promotion of peace agreements".

Before the approval of the report, the Senate debated in two speaking slots on other aspects of institutional activities, such as the bureaucratisation of academic activity, the future focus of the teaching programme, the concept of co-governance and the relationship between the Rector's Office and the faculties, the allocation of grants for research staff, the model of attendance and the reservation of places for people with disabilities.

New Statutes and Annual Reports

The UAB is currently immersed in the drafting of the new Statutes adapted to the recently approved Organic Law of the University System, and the Senate dedicated an item on the agenda to information on the state of this process. Secretary General Esther Zapater detailed the work carried out so far by the drafting committee and the different working groups, which will give way to a participatory process open to the entire university community starting next February, as planned.

Zapater also presented two annual reports to the Senate. On the one hand, the report on activities in the area of university ethics dealt mainly with the functioning of the ethics channel, which has already received four communications, and different training actions in the area of ethics and integrity, as well as the project to draw up a risk map of the University. On the other hand, the annual report of the Observatory for Equality, focused on the application of the Protocol to prevent and act against sexual harassment, harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and gender-based violence.

This year's report covers the period from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023 and, therefore, already incorporates the actions initiated from the modification of the protocol that was approved on 14 December 2022. According to the secretary general, in the period covered by the report, the Observatory for Equality has dealt with 27 cases of discrimination, harassment or sexist and lgbti-phobic violence. There have also been seven requests for the activation of the Protocol and the convening of the technical advisory committee. The report also explains that the organisation Fil a l'Agulla has been commissioned to develop a methodology for dealing with the reinstatement of teachers who have been sanctioned. Secretary General Zapater also detailed the awareness-raising actions that have been implemented thanks to the funding obtained through the State Pact against Gender Violence.

Finally, Ombudsperson María Jesús Espuny explained in her annual report that in 2022, the Ombuds' Office dealt with a total of 161 complaints, a notable increase when compared to previous years (in 2021, there were 105). The complaints received during this period were related to academic matters: evaluation, relations with teaching staff, etc., the functioning of services in the university community, mobility and access to the campus, and other issues.