In early September I had the opportunity to enjoy the presentation of the documentary The Rebellion of Flowers in Barcelona. Activist and leader Moira Millán explained the Mapuche women’s struggle for their rights. Among the eleven initiatives, the birth of multiversity filled me with curiosity, “university no, diversity,” Moira said aloud. According to this proposal, the knowledge usually taught in universities, research methodologies and their possible applications throughout life have been based on models defined by the West. On many occasions, ignoring the cultural references of other countries, and in most cases, following the ideology of the markets, as if it were objective.

This approach has some characteristics of interest. Among other things, it gives value to the diversity of the origin of knowledge and, in particular, to the knowledge that since remote times existed in rural centers, or to the view of groups that are sometimes marginalized. This proposal involves dialogue, a look, a listening and, calmly, building new paths from collective reflections.

In our case, the University of the Basque Country has again been included in the prestigious list of Shanghai. Although last year we were among the top 400 universities in the world, this year we have lowered some positions. It should be noted that this ranking focuses mainly on the impact of research. If the assessment criteria were to take into account the teaching activity, the aspect of the list would have to be seen. And of course, you know if we'd get jobs on that list.

Research activities, in general, have greater recognition in relation to teaching activities. Competition for so-called excellence between universities, as has already been mentioned, is based on research. And not only that, if someone wants to advance in the academic field, besides the doctoral thesis, it is essential to have articles in indexed journals for the positive evaluation of external agencies. As the declarations are received in the research career, teaching hours are reduced in some way to be able to investigate with higher quality. A kind of prize. Interestingly, the few statements that can be obtained in teaching have no restrictions on the hours of research.

In fact, the drama undergoing education is on the rise. Proof of this is, for example, the worsening working conditions of people in replacements in recent years; with the interpretation that has been made of the Organic Law of the Spanish University System, in addition, its situation has become even more regrettable (the problem has been clearly stated in eleven media). Moreover, the high number of students in the first years of various degrees makes it difficult to guarantee the quality of teaching. All these signs show that interest and concern for this level of education are not enough.

Inevitably, the way of teaching is becoming more directive, and there are few spaces to collectively address possible doubts, to act calmly from new points of view, or to foster an essential critical vision in these spaces. Fortunately, the profile of students is increasingly plural, but most of the time we turn our backs on this diversity, unfortunately. In addition to the international publication of what we research, the broadcasting among our students will be essential to build a plural version of this university among all.