We are very satisfied with the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between Salamanca’s Town Council, Caja Rural and the University of Salamanca, for the elaboration of the “II call for research projects on the primary sector”.
This year, thanks to the economic support of Caja Rural with 50.000 €, it has been possible to obtain a budget of 150.000 €, what will allow to double the amount of financing provided to each project, by 20.000 €. The same amount will be provided by the University in Human Capital and internal resources. These joint initiatives will impact on the generation of wealth in the surrounding environment and will generate new projects. Research and transfer are fundamental elements for the development of universities, and doing this in the surrounding environment is even more important.
The financing of research in USAL is improving greatly thanks to this call, as well as numerous others that have been organized in recent years. However, there is much more to this, if we want to enhance the leadership of researchers in the University of Salamanca, we have to increase the permanent incorporation of research staff and foster the research career from the very basis by organizing specific aid programs for researchers, focusing on their needs; extending administrative support for research management and incorporating and retaining talent in research groups and in different departments.
Education and research require well equipped libraries and this is where the University has to make a great effort, at providing both, resources and staff. Also, to provide appropriately scaled research support services, with good management structures and a backing that will give a clear boost to dissemination and transfer, through solid and accurately coordinated initiatives. In order to achieve the kind of leadership we refer to, it is necessary to reduce bureaucracy by assisting support units in management with specialized and well trained PAS (administration and services personnel). The specialized training of PAS in the place of work will produce important synergies.
We have already started on this path and have trotted quite a way. With the effort of professors and PAS, and those directing journals and book collections, as well as the good doing of University Editions Salamanca, we have managed to get some of their journals and collections to be among the most valued nationally and internationally. However, there is something even more urgent to do and that is to strengthen the staff, stabilizing all the professors that have temporary positions and facilitating the promotion of our teaching staff, something that has been stalled for years. Simultaneously, it is necessary to incorporate young researchers as well as professors (auxiliaries, PhD auxiliaries, pre- and post-PhD researchers. The current law allows us to do this swiftly, we have a budget for it and we know how to do it. Just by making the working staff more robust we will be able to increase our financing potential in all fields.
We live in a world that is filled with challenges and opportunities. A complex world that demands activity, modernization and multiple capabilities from people in order to allow them to face daily life. Since eight hundred years, Salamanca has a unique and authentic University at its heart. The oldest in Spain and one that treasures the greatest recognition. Over its course, it has demonstrated the greatest initiatives and has firmly maintained its distinguishing traits which granted it respect in all parts of the world. This call for research projects for the first sector, and the effort of the University to improve its research and transfer capabilities, is one of many examples of adapting to the new times.
Juan M. Corchado 