The Plenary of the Board of Trustees of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) has approved in its regular meeting the academic institution’s 2016 budget, which rises to 97,474,171 euros. This quantity represents an overall increase of 7.33% with respect to the preceding year.

This budget increase is a result of the agreement the UMH reached with the Generalitat Valenciana in December 2014 for recovery of historical debt, which in 2016 will account for 10,366,791 euros. Also included in this forecast is the recovery of 48% of the extraordinary payment from 2012 to university employees, which rises to 991,330 euros, and a 1% increase in their basic compensation, accounting for an additional increment of 464,441 euros.

Investment increases to almost 7 million euros and this represents 7.1% of the total 2016 budget. Most of this is destined to the infrastructure and equipment necessary for improving and expanding campus facilities. Among others, measures that stand include urbanization and landscaping, new departmental and service buildings, athletic installations, in addition to rehabilitation and remodeling of existing buildings and facilities at various UMH campuses.

Furthermore, the 2016 budget incorporates a set of actions in various areas. Its breakdown is as follows:

1. The Vice Rectorate for Student Affairs and Athletics receives a special allocation of 1,225,466 euros. This is for a scholarship program for student enrollment, for the collaboration of our students in university activities, in addition to other actions that enhance their labor market insertion.

2. The Vice Rectorate for Research and Innovation has budget allocations close to 4 million euros destined to various lines of research development and support, such as introduction to research, support for technological transfer, support for scientific dissemination, support for the training of research personnel, and the Plan to Promote Innovation and Research.

3. The Vice Rectorate for International Relations will conduct a number of actions focused on boosting internationalization and exchange programs for students, faculty, and staff, with an allocation of 870,000 euros. This budget also provides for a contribution to international cooperation of 53,000 euros for rehabilitating schools in Nemba, Rwanda.

4. The budget also includes, among other provisions, 364,000 euros for the Vice Rectorate for Institutional Relations and 118,000 euros for activities promoted by the Vice Rectorate for Culture and University Extension.

What’s more, this budget maintains the allocations for the Program of Excellence and Competitiveness, and it adjusts budgetary considerations to current challenges.

In short, UMH budgetary policies put a premium on the efficient use of resources, maintain quality standards in teaching, research, and services, and continue to foster growth in university infrastructure.

This budget regains growth, is ambitious in its objectives and projects, and meets the commitments that the Miguel Hernández University of Elche maintains with society.

Declarations by the UMH Vice Rector for Economics and Business, Fernando Vidal Giménez.