"Join us on the road to free college!" On Wednesday, several students have submitted their applications at the Campus of Leioa, with the objective of a “free and quality university for all”. On the one hand, they have underlined the need to reduce tuition fees: re-enrolment at the same price as the first registrations, free registration of practices and reduction of the registration price of master's degrees. On the other hand, they have highlighted the improvement of housing and transport scholarships, as well as the fact that the practices are employed.

As explained to ARGIA a member of the University Force (UIB), organized in assemblies many people have worked to lower enrollment and improve scholarships, and the 10,549 firms collected have been the "fruit" of it.

According to the movement, currently, 65% of students are unable to apply for the scholarship and are denied half of the scholarships allocated to them. In the context of the process of widespread enrichment in recent years, an appeal has been made to free university. They say that the UPV/EHU is responsible for the increase of the university: “Despite the fact that the UPV/EHU budgets are getting bigger every year, we see no will or will to lower prices.”

The UPV/EHU draft budget for 2024 amounts to EUR 531 million, which is 7.38% more than last year. The UIB has criticised the university’s money for negotiating with companies this year.

The campaign
to collect signatures has been developed in the midst of the electoral campaign of the UPV/EHU to publicize the "real situation" of the university. Elections to the Rector of the UPV/EHU will be held on 26 November, in which all UPV students will be able to vote.

The movement has criticized that the university "uses the time of elections to try to justify itself" and that "they want to do theater and stage that the students take us into account".

During their hearing, they stressed the need to organise themselves "in the face of false promises" in order to improve conditions. “Only in this way will our interests be replaced and progress towards gratuitousness be achieved.” The members of the UIB have explained that they have put their hands on the work to mobilize if the rectors do not attend to it.