A commission recently established by the rector of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel, will carry out, through studies and reflections, the economic and financial planning of the University in the long term. The Economic Planning and Monitoring Commission (CPLAE) will be coordinated by professor Miguel Juan Bacic, from Unicamp's Institute of Economics (IE), and will be linked to the Dean of University Development (PRDU).
According to Miguel Bacic, the Commission will outline future scenarios in order to ensure the fulfillment of Unicamp's mission within society, both in favorable economic contexts and in times of crisis. The coordinator highlighted that CPLAE will work in collaboration with the Economics and Planning Advisory (Aeplan), the body responsible for the institution's current budget planning.
“We will look beyond the current economic crisis, trying to reflect, for example, how the University can continue to grow in the long term. It is clear that we will discuss budget restrictions and how they may affect Unicamp”, explained the coordinator.
The IE professor revealed that among the Commission's responsibilities is monitoring, in the long term, the behavior of the Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS), the main source of budgetary resources for São Paulo state universities. “We will study the prospects and solidity of this source of resources for the University, also monitoring other economic and financial indicators that affect our budget.”
The dean of university development, Marisa Beppu, said that the Commission will be responsible for implementing a Unicamp Research Fund, the use policy of which must be submitted to the University Council (Consu). According to her, the Research Fund will regulate and manage the receipt of donations from individuals and legal entities to Unicamp, respecting the autonomy and principle of a public, free and quality university.
“It is important to highlight the willingness of the Central Administration to provide a team within PRDU dedicated to thinking about the University in its future perspective. In addition to the immediate issue, it is of fundamental importance that Unicamp reflects on its economic and financial future and evaluates, for example, how it will relate to its different financiers and with society. At this point, I emphasize that the Commission will act in line with the institution's Strategic Planning (Planes) policies, defending the public, free and quality university.”
