Argentine universities face budget crises and political unrest

Argentine universities are facing deepening structural and financial crises. Jorge Calzoni, rector of the Universidad Nacional de Avellaneda (UNDAV), warned that problems across various institutions are intensifying over time. He noted a critical imbalance in budget allocation, stating that while salaries now account for 96% of budgets, only 4% remains for operational expenses and maintenance, a significant shift from the historical 90/10 ratio. Additionally, funding for Progresar scholarships and university hospital operations remains frozen.

In a separate incident at the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, a student assembly in the Faculty of Humanities descended into political conflict involving members of various political groups. Following the unrest, the national government, through Undersecretary of University Policies Alejandro Álvarez, issued a formal demand to Rector Mónica Biasone to end the violence and take responsibility for maintaining order, suggesting that passivity in these matters could be viewed as complicity.