New hiring rules in the university and research systems

Abstract

The Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) and the reform of the Science Law have established a regulatory framework that seeks to substantially alter the hiring policy of public universities and public research centers in Spain. This paper analyzes, starting from the current situation of the universities’ staff, the different regulated figures, in comparative terms with the pre-existing ones, and in the logic of the design of a new research career. The lack of definition of many of the aspects, the absence of clear consequences for non-compliance with the stability obligations imposed, and the dependence on eventual budgetary improvements in university funding, cast some important doubts on the effectiveness of these reforms in the stability of employment in the areas of public research.