Galician universities face aging faculty and low research accreditation

Galician universities are facing challenges regarding generational turnover and research productivity. Data from the Ministry of Universities for the 2024-2025 academic year indicates that one in five faculty members in the region is approaching retirement, contributing to one of the oldest teaching staffs in Spain.

Furthermore, the region ranks low in recognized research performance. Only 49.3% of doctoral faculty members in Galicia hold optimal 'sexenios'—six-year periods of research activity officially recognized by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA). This figure is 4.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a decline in the proportion of staff whose research contributions are formally credited for prestige and salary increases.