This article discusses the relationship between three universities in the Murcia region of Spain: the University of Murcia (UMU), the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), and the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM). It details their evolution from fierce competition to a more collaborative environment.
The UPCT's establishment in 1998 marked a significant moment in Spanish higher education, coinciding with a surge in private universities. While public universities remained stagnant at 50, private universities have expanded to 46, with another 10 under consideration. This growth led to recent government initiatives to tighten regulations on private university creation, citing concerns about quality and funding disparities.
The three universities in Murcia have grown substantially in student numbers, degree programs, and campuses over the past three decades. Despite initial competition, they now share 28 duplicated degrees and 2 triplicated degrees (Tourism and Business Administration). Notable disputes involved the establishment of Architecture and Medicine programs at UCAM and the UPCT's initial independence from UMU.
UMU's dominance ended with UCAM's founding in 1996. The UPCT, created in 1989, has maintained its student numbers despite national challenges for technical degrees. Currently, the three universities educate nearly 60,000 students. Falling birth rates are expected to impact future enrollment.
The relationship between UMU and UPCT remains strong. The rector of UMU now views the relationship with UCAM as “concurrence” rather than “competition.” However, there's a shared concern regarding the uncontrolled growth of new universities.
The rectors of UPCT and UCAM offer contrasting views. The UPCT rector emphasizes the crucial role of public universities in ensuring accessibility. He stresses the need for robust quality control, especially for online universities. The UCAM rector argues that with proper quality control, private universities should have the freedom to offer programs, as they bear financial risks and competition drives quality. However, she also acknowledges concerns about the duplication of programs among neighboring public universities, due to the increased public expense.