«When there is more than one university in an autonomous community, it is the health authorities who must harmonize practices»

Amparo Navarro arrives for the interview at the rector's office of the University of Alicante -which she will occupy in an acting capacity until the Plenary of the Consell accepts her resignation and it is published in the DOGV-, as soon as she sets foot on campus. Minutes earlier, in her car, a very special album was playing in the background. She has several, but every year she listens to the one given to her on Epiphany. Her husband, José Miguel, chooses the best songs to accompany her on her journeys. Among them are stimulating tracks -like those of Queen or Abba, among other groups- that provide part of the energy needed to face the day ahead at the academic institution.

Since the start of the academic year, she confesses, there is a song that has not stopped playing. The 'Hymne à l'amour' that Céline Dion performed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, in tribute to Édith Piaf. «I had forgotten about it», she admits, but listening to it during the opening ceremony of the event has ensured this does not happen again. «I love it». The conversation continues in its early minutes talking about cinema and literature, two of the arts she has used throughout her life to calm and nourish her mind. However, what she enjoys most are discussions with her children, family, and friends after sitting down at the table.

The conversations these weeks contain several 'topics' that, despite being off-campus and outside working hours, come up. As can be assumed, one of them is the Medicine degree at the University of Alicante and the continuity of these studies after the administrative litigation filed by Miguel Hernández University and the Consell's settlement. Others relate to her day-to-day leadership over nearly four years at the University of Alicante; which leads to a new step: re-election as rector for six more years.

If successful, it would be a historic milestone. The first woman to lead the academic institution who, if elected again at the end of November, would repeat in office, being the 'longest-serving rector' with a decade-long mandate, and most importantly, the last able to run for a second term since Losu -once implemented- will prevent it.

She prepares for new elections four years later; how does this process begin?

It begins unusually because the University has been very tense with the crisis we had with the Medicine degree. Now that things seem clearer according to reports, we face it as we have always faced elections at the University of Alicante. With a spirit of confronting ideas, projects, learning, and actively listening to all university demands.

Why do you decide to run for re-election?

Apart from being something that usually happens when a rector runs for re-election -although this time will be the last since Losu will only establish one term- I decided to run because some projects remain unfinished after four years. Additionally, I consider that running is a way to be accountable to the university community for what I have done and see if we are on track or need new projects. Also because I am excited about challenges we still have for the next six years.

What three important projects will you include in your electoral program? Start with Technical Staff, Management Staff, and Administrative Services

We have advanced significantly with PTGAS during this term in both stabilization and promotion. However, I believe we also need to attempt generational renewal coming up in future years. We must create an attractive professional and administrative career path for professionals working with us. We need a good training plan to specialize them in new technologies and electronic administration procedures.

For students?

Apart from maintaining fluid communication with them over these years to capture their concerns; we must be very attentive to their employability; accompany them and train them to become good professionals and citizens. We must offer them attractive lifelong learning opportunities since what they study now will not serve forever; they will need constant self-improvement hence requiring good offers.

And for Teaching and Research Staff?

We continue advancing generational renewal; we must definitively undertake transitioning our third generation given Alicante University's age. We must attract and retain talent by creating stable academic careers; improve infrastructures for everyone along with renewing space strategy through new opportunities like west campus while minimizing processes' complexity where possible within university bureaucracy.

How has your previous program fared? Has it been fully implemented or are there pending points?

A program can never be fully implemented due mostly due exogenous factors beyond control; however we've achieved significant progress nearly 80%. Soon I'll present an accountability report detailing fulfilled programs.

Are you satisfied with management over past four years?

Yes especially regarding PTGAS stabilization where initial 24% interim rate reduced below EU requirements now at 7% aiming further down towards 3%. PDI renewal also progressed reducing associate rate by almost three points alongside offering substantial assistant professor positions surpassing replacement rates securing nearly 180 new state-funded positions soon available till June 2025 marking highest stable faculty offer recent years connecting east-west campuses significantly increasing linked companies within Science Park overall satisfaction prevails.

The multi-year funding plan remains an outstanding challenge you've consistently advocated till end; any progress?

The previous Consell couldn't finalize multi-year funding plan yet managed raising regional funding share by one percentage point increasing nearly six million euros though insufficient continued advocating stability through ongoing negotiations among five public universities' economic teams optimistic satisfactory closure ahead.

Losu frequently discussed various occasions how's its implementation progressing?

The ministry granted one-year extension post-electoral government change allowing definitive implementation whereby immediate Losu mandates already applied including faculty dedication regulations position competitions awaiting further statutory reforms prudently deferred pending ministry-developed regulations initiating new mandate under elected rector ensuring comprehensive compliance ahead.