UNC Legal Framework: Autonomy, Governance, and Education
UNC Legal Norms
The National University of Córdoba (UNC) operates under specific legal norms, encompassing operation codes, cohabitation, educational training, research, and community services, all aimed at achieving integration.
Legal Framework: Statutes
The UNC’s regulatory framework is defined by its statutes, which govern all university activities.
Key Areas Covered by Statutes
- Origin, mission, and purposes of UNC
- Concepts of university autonomy and autarky
- University governance (AUCS, Rector, Dean, CD) and principles
- Mechanisms for government standardization in case of leadership vacancy
- Economic aspects, heritage, and financial resources
- Teaching system, teacher categories, and regulations
- General guidelines for teaching organization, academic calendar, and student regulations
- Scientific research and its relation to society
- Alumni and student associations
- University extension provisions
- Retirement system for teachers and research assistants
Autarchy and Autonomy
Autarchy: UNC dictates its charter, manages its heritage, and sets its budget within a legal regime, signifying its capacity to govern independently.
Autonomy: UNC has full governance over its studies, elects its officers, appoints and removes faculty and staff, and issues certificates of competence, demonstrating its ability to self-govern.
UNC Governance Principles
UNC governance involves representatives from all university sectors (teachers, students, non-teachers, and graduates), known as co-governance. Representation is not equal across all faculties, but no single sector can hold more than 50% of the governing bodies.
UNC Faculties
UNC comprises faculties of Social and Physical Rights, Natural Medical Sciences, Economic Sciences, Philosophy and Humanities, Architecture and Urban Design, Dentistry, Agriculture, Mathematics and Physical Astronomy, Chemical Sciences, and Psychology and Languages.
Governing Bodies
First Level:
- General: AUCS Rector and Vice-Rector
- Special: CD Deans and their deputies
Second Level:
- Unipersonal: Rector and Deans
- Collegiate: Other governing bodies
Higher Education Law (LES)
Promulgated on August 7, 1995, the LES encompasses all higher education institutions and covers objectives, structure, rights, obligations, university institutions, autonomy, operational conditions, titles, evaluation, and accreditation.
Key changes introduced by LES include new rules for autonomy, autarchy, university funding, and government control. It authorizes universities to set their own regimes for student access, retention, graduation, teacher salaries, and fund management.
Evaluation is conducted internally by the university and externally by CONEAU every six years.
Political and Economic Context of LES
The LES emerged during a period of neoliberal reforms under the Menem government, characterized by privatization and the spread of corporate culture. This led to limitations on university autonomy and the introduction of market-oriented policies.
CONEAU
The National Commission for University Evaluation and Accreditation (CONEAU) is part of the Ministry of Culture and Education. Its members are appointed by the national executive for four-year terms.
Functions:
- External evaluation
- Diagnostic reports and recommendations for accreditation (full, with improvements, or non-accreditation)
Evaluations are based on established standards.