University of Sonora rector requests increased 2027 federal funding

Dena María Camarena Gómez, rector of the University of Sonora (Unison), has requested increased federal funding for state public universities for 2027. Speaking before the Chamber of Deputies, she emphasized the need to strengthen budgets to manage salary policies and ensure workers earning below the minimum wage are leveled.

Camarena Gómez noted that while public higher education institutions have expanded coverage and improved efficiency, they are facing severe financial constraints. She highlighted that Unison’s enrollment has increased by 34% since 2018 through austerity and efficient spending. However, she warned that these efforts have reached their limit.

Citing data from the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES), the rector noted a deficit between 2019 and 2026 of 29.575 billion pesos, which could rise to 34.991 billion pesos by 2027. To address this, she proposed that the increase in ordinary subsidies for state public universities be at least 4%, compared to the 3.2% currently planned for most institutions.