Half of Spain’s academics are doing little or no research

Large numbers of scholars employed at Spanish universities spend their lives in academia without carrying out any research, according to government data.

Since 1983, academics working at Spanish universities have been legally obliged to teach and do research, but only half of them have demonstrated that they do both, according to data published by the country’s education ministry and reported by the El País newspaper on 28 February.

University staff who are active in research apply for a salary bonus every six years. CNEAI, the national commission for the evaluation of research activity, which is formed by prestigious university researchers and representatives from the central and regional governments, evaluate the work submitted by these researchers, which can include papers, books and patents. If they pass the evaluation, researchers’ monthly salaries will increase by €140. Researchers can accumulate up to six pay rises of this kind.