Ministry of Universities explained

Agency Name:	Ministry of Universities
Native Name:	Ministerio de Universidades
Picture Width:	250px
Picture Caption:	Headquarters of the Ministry
Formed:	12 January 2020
Preceding1:	Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Dissolved:	20 November 2023
Superseding:	Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Jurisdiction:	Government of Spain
Region Code:	ES
Budget:	€ 475 million, 2023^[1]
Minister1 Name:	Joan Subirats
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister
Agency Type:	Ministry

The Ministry of Universities was a ministerial department in the Government of Spain responsible for proposing and carrying out the government policy on universities as well as representing Spain in the European Union and other international organizations regarding universities.^[2]

The department was created as part of the Sánchez II Government as a split from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. On 20 November 2023 the department was disestablished and its functions returned to the Ministry of Science^[3] after years of insistence by the scientific and university community..^[4]

The ministry had two ministers: Manuel Castells (2020–2021)^[5] and Joan Subirats (2021–2023).^[6]

Organization chart

The Department of Universities was structured in the following bodies:^[7]

• The General Secretariat for Universities
  • The Technical Cabinet
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for University Professors Training and Programming
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Degrees and Planning, Monitoring and Management of University Education
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Student Services and Institutional Relations
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Research University Activity
• The Undersecretariat of Universities
  • The General Technical Secretariat
    • The Deputy General Technical Secretariat
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Appeals and Relations with the Courts of Justice
  • The Technical Cabinet
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Economic Management, Budget Office and General Affairs
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Personnel and Inspection of Services
  • The Information and Communication Technologies Division

Ministry agencies

• The University Council.
• The University Policy General Conference.
• The State University Student Council.
• The College of Spain in Paris.
• The Menéndez Pelayo International University.
• The National University of Distance Education.
• The National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation.
• The Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education.

List of officeholders

Office name:

• Ministry of Universities (2020–2023)

Portrait	Name	Term of office			Party		Government	Prime Minister
	Manuel Castells	2020	2021			Independent	Sánchez II		Pedro Sánchez	^[8] ^[9]
	Joan Subirats	2021	2023			CatComú				^[10] ^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1 January 2023. 2023 State Budget. 8 January 2023. www.boe.es.
2. Web site: Royal Decree 431/2020, of March 3, which develops the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Universities.. boe.es. 22459–22470 . 2020-03-05.
3. Web site: Pereda . África Gelardo Arrebola, Cristina F. . 2023-11-20 . Diana Morant suma Universidades al Ministerio de Ciencia . 2023-11-23 . elDiario.es . es.
4. Web site: Silió . Elisa . 2023-11-21 . Fusionar de nuevo los ministerios de Universidades y Ciencia: la petición diaria de rectores y científicos . 2023-11-23 . El País . es.
5. Web site: Benito . Raquel . 2020-01-05 . El sociólogo Manuel Castells será el próximo ministro de Universidades . 2023-11-23 . elconfidencial.com . es.
6. Web site: 2021-12-20. Joan Subirats promete su cargo ante el rey. 2021-12-20. elperiodico. es.
7. Web site: Royal Decree 139/2020, of January 28, which establishes the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments.. boe.es. 2020-01-30.
8. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. Boletín Oficial del Estado. 11. 13 January 2020. es. Real Decreto 8/2020, de 12 de enero, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno. 0212-033X. 2882.
9. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. Boletín Oficial del Estado. 303. 20 December 2021. es. Real Decreto 1113/2021, de 17 de diciembre, por el que se dispone el cese de don Manuel Castells Oliván como Ministro de Universidades. 0212-033X. 155669.
10. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. Boletín Oficial del Estado. 303. 20 December 2021. es. Real Decreto 1114/2021, de 17 de diciembre, por el que se nombra Ministro de Universidades a don Joan Subirats Humet. 0212-033X. 155670.
11. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. Boletín Oficial del Estado. 176. 25 July 2023. es. Real Decreto 695/2023, de 24 de julio, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno. 0212-033X. 108070–108071.