The Board of Directors of the University of Castile-La Mancha (UCLM), meeting this Tuesday at the Ciudad Real Campus under the chairmanship of its rector, Julián Garde, approved the draft budget of the academic institution for the year 2026, which amounts to … 357,215,000 euros, which represents an increase of 7.3% compared to the previous one or 332.8 million. Of the increase of 24.4 million, 50% is allocated to new expenditure for actions in the investment chapter and the rest, mainly, to the increase in personnel costs and social security contributions, with 11 million euros compared to the previous year.
Presented on the proposal of the vice-rector for economy and strategic planning, its director, Francisco Sáez, recalled that these are the last accounts ratified within the framework of the program contract established with the Community Council for the period 2022-2026. For his preparation, the vice-rector explained that the nominal transfer set at 235.1 million euros was taken into account, which covers the salary costs of civil servants – including the 1.5% salary increase – and the compensation for the first free education, which reaches an estimated value of 3.5 million euros.
In addition to the nominal, Sáez referred to the other pillars to be taken into consideration: the costs of structural personnel, the community return, to which is associated a forecast expenditure item financed by community funds of 26.3 million euros and another of revenue of 31.5 million; and revenue from official registration plates, of 25 million euros.
Investment plan
With reference to the Investment Plan, also authorized by the Government Council, the budgets include an item of 18.6 million euros which provides, among other actions, for the reprogramming of the infrastructure and research of the future biohealth campus of Ciudad Real, after the call for tenders for the works last July. In the area of sustainability, the new million-euro action stands out for the energy rehabilitation of the Fermín Caballero building, headquarters of the Higher School of Informatics of the Ciudad Real Campus; and a UCLM energy consumption monitoring project.
On the proposal of the Management and the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Professional Development, in terms of personnel, the green light was given to the 2025 public job offer, with 31 free access places and 60 promotion places for Technical, Management, Administration and Services Personnel (PTGAS), and with 134 free positions for tenured teaching staff and the same number for internal promotion to the rank of professor.
Furthermore, with regard to the PTGAS, the Regulations governing the evaluation and performance system were approved, aimed at promoting the continuous professional development of the group and financially recognizing the performances and results obtained in the exercise of their functions.
Regarding matters related to the Office of the Vice-Rector for Students and Employability, the highest governing body has given its approval to the II Student Participation Plan of UCLM, which aims for greater and better involvement of the student body in all areas of the academic institution; and the regulations of the Student Life Observatory of the University of Castile-La Mancha, which will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the aforementioned plan.
During the last Board of Directors of the year, on the proposal of the Vice-Rector for Postgraduate and Continuing Education, the members of the collegial body approved a 62.7% increase in places in their own education for the 2025/2026 academic year, which represents a final offer of 6,437 places. University microcredentials, intended for the professional requalification of workers, are those which have seen the largest increase, of 156.7%, going from an initial offer of 1,642 places to 2,690.
Likewise, at the initiative of the same Vice-Rector, the procedure for access, registration and certification of courses and digital skills level accreditation tests was authorized in accordance with the European Digital Skills Framework (DigComp), the offer of which will be aimed both at the university community and at society in general, and will allow the accreditation of knowledge levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Likewise, the new titles of Master of Continuing Education in Methods of Synthesis of Scientific Evidence in Health, Expert in Intervention and Prevention in the Field of Addictions and Expert in Characterization and Chemical Compounds and Materials were approved.
On behalf of the Vice-Rectorate of Scientific Policy and Innovation, Coordination and Development, the regulations governing the UCLM Extraordinary Doctoral Scholarships were presented; and spin-offs Quantum Blue Space and Aikilimo, respectively, approved by the Board of Governors. For her part, the vice-rector of University Projection, Rebeca Rubio, pointed out the increase in the impact of promotional campaigns and the improvement in the projection of the corporate image.
Finally, the official titles of the diplomas and the regulations of the Social Action and the Psychological and Psychopedagogical Orientation and Counseling Service of the UCLM have been modified; as well as verification of the study plan for the interuniversity Master in administrative management.
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