On October 21, 2026, Andalusia’s regional minister for Universities, Industry, Energy and Innovation, Jorge Paradela, presented public university rectors with his department’s strategic priorities for universities and research. They include ten measures to attract, develop and retain talent through 2030. The meeting was part of a series of discussions with social partners and the university community to shape the department’s plan for the legislative term, which sets out five overarching objectives, monitoring indicators and 40 lines of action.
Paradela said Andalusia had an opportunity to become southern Europe’s leading region for talent, knowledge and innovative industry. He described public universities as strategic partners in turning knowledge into prosperity and attracting, developing and retaining talent. He also said that bringing responsibility for universities, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, industry, energy and mining together in one department could help advance that goal.
Among the proposed targets, Paradela called for joint work to halve the €2,134 annual gap between the average social security contribution base of Andalusian graduates and the national average. He also aims to raise graduate employment in the first year after graduation by four percentage points and increase by two points the share of employed graduates working in Andalusia, to more than 76%.
Paradela asked universities to begin preparing the 2029–2032 academic programme immediately. The current programme, which updated 210 degree courses, ends in the 2028–2029 academic year. Partnerships between universities and businesses to expand dual university education are also part of the employment measures.
For research, the goal is to increase the number of full-time-equivalent research and development staff from 9.57 to 13 per 1,000 employed people. The source says this target is six tenths below the national figure for 2024. Plans include a regular timetable for training, attracting and retaining talent; more recruitment and retention of national and international researchers through postdoctoral contracts and the Emergia programme; and support for competitively funded research and development projects.
On funding, Paradela said the university financing system should be adapted to improve efficiency and sustainability. He proposed a model that considers results, indicators and success objectives alongside funding, including universities’ positions in university and research rankings, academic achievement rates and women’s participation in STEM courses. The department plans to develop new programme contracts with success indicators. It also expects the Directorate-General for Funding, Infrastructure and University Resources and a technical working group assessing staff costs to help improve funding, ease financial pressures and increase system efficiency.
Paradela said the 2027 Andalusian budget would include an increase in university funding intended to meet the needs of, and support improvements to, the public university system.