Representatives of technical, administrative, and management staff at the Universidade de Evora have submitted a letter to the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, proposing revisions to the Legal Framework for Higher Education Institutions (RJIES). The initiative follows a request for a meeting with the minister and parliamentary groups, expressing dissatisfaction with their exclusion from the ongoing revision process.
The staff, representing approximately 15,000 workers nationwide, contest their minimal influence in institutional general councils. They propose that technical, administrative, and management staff hold at least 20% representation in rector and president elections, while no single group should exceed 45% to maintain governance balance and pluralism. They also suggest increasing their representation in general councils to a minimum of 10%, instead of the 5% currently proposed.
The group opposes including former students in executive decisions, arguing that prioritizing active academic community members—faculty, students, and staff—is crucial for alignment with current institutional priorities and to avoid conflicts of interest.
The letter highlights the essential role of staff in administrative and financial management, infrastructure maintenance, technical support for labs and research centers, academic and social services, and libraries, emphasizing their central contribution to the quality of teaching and research.
The staff now await scheduling of the requested meeting with the Minister of Education.
Source: Universidade de Evora
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