LA LAGUNA (TENERIFE), 13 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has requested assistance from the two public universities this Friday to guide the Executive in its decision-making concerning the two significant issues for the reopening of the political season: immigration and the ‘Catalan quota’.
While addressing the formal opening of the academic year at the ULL, he implored both institutions to provide their expertise, acknowledging the likelihood of considerable political discourse in the coming months. He warned that there is a “risk” of decisions being made that are “tainted by conflict” rather than serving the interests of migrants or society at large.
“In facing these two challenges, we as a Government require the support of our public universities, esteemed rectors, as there will undoubtedly be substantial noise and intense debate. In light of this, we need a space for meeting, calm, dialogue, and understanding,” he elaborated.
Clavijo also emphasised the establishment of the Department of Universities, which operates independently from the Department of Education, to facilitate “greater knowledge transfer” to society. This, he stated, ensures that public administration decisions are informed with scientific and academic advice.
“In this inaugural year, we have felt supported, accompanied, guided, and advised throughout the various initiatives we have undertaken with our public universities,” he affirmed.
For this reason, he maintained that during this “period of transition,” issues can be tackled “without ideological or political bias,” such as the distribution of wealth and the challenges posed by tourism and housing. This is particularly relevant in the university context due to the “struggles” students face in securing accommodation or places in student residences. “This is our duty,” he stated.