New rector takes over at Almeria University

CARMELO RODRIGUEZ, whose appointment was announced months ago, was officially installed as rector of Almeria University.
He succeeds Pedro Molina Garcia who presented the new rector, equivalent to a vice-chancellor, with the traditional medal of office, baton and biretta during the ceremony.
The investiture was attended by the new head of the regional government’s Economy and Knowledge department, Antonio Ramirez de Arellano.
Speaking shortly before the ceremony Ramirez de Arellano announced that the Junta hoped to reduce the cost of studying and intended to improve conditions and make them more flexible for students.
“The idea is to inject more cash, which is the universities’ principal problem,” Ramirez de Arellano said.
He estimated that this would require an extra €100 million. “The objective is to enable universities to reach the autumn with sufficient solvency to function normally and without having to halt any of their projects.”