The medical studies offered at both the University of Alicante (UA) and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) have been under scrutiny since the Consell de Mazón decided on August 2 to withdraw from the legal resource filed against the degree in Alicante at the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community.
The Generalitat claims it acted based on neutrality, despite the fact that this decision aligns with the stance of the University of Elche.
Within a few kilometers, there are two faculties of medicine. This duplication originated after the Consell del Botànic authorized the UA to reclaim the qualification it lost in the 1990s, which ultimately became a foundation for Miguel Hernández. The University of Alicante is prepared to commence its second academic year with 86 places. This will result in a total of 172 students across the two cohorts, with significant demand for the program, as evidenced by the 4,095 applicants still on the waiting list.
Seven Common Degrees
However, these are not the only programs duplicated by both universities, although there currently seem to be no issues with the others. According to the degree comparator by the Ministry of Universities-National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), there are a total of seven degrees available at both institutions. The UA offers 45 degrees, while the UMH provides 31.
In addition to Medicine, these include the degree in Marketing, which the UMH teaches alongside Commercial Management; the degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources; the degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences; Business Administration and Management; Law; and the degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the UA, which is referred to as Communication and Public Relations at the UMH.
Similar
There are other degrees that, while not identical, are quite similar. These include Sound Engineering and Computer Engineering at the University of Alicante, and the Computer Engineering and Information Technology degrees at the Elche university.
Regarding doctorate programs, coincidences do not occur; for example, in Alicante, there is a doctorate in Health Sciences while in Elche, there are programs in Public Health, Medical and Surgical Sciences.
Another instance is the degree in Robotics Engineering at the UA, which isn’t offered at the UMH; however, that institution provides a master’s degree in Robotics as an alternative. Conversely, among the degrees available at the Miguel Hernández University is Food Science and Technology, while the UA offers a master’s in Food Science and Nutrition.
Interuniversity Campus
Last week, the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, announced that the universities of Alicante and Elche have been asked to develop an interuniversity health campus that incorporates degrees from both universities, positioning the province as a key health cluster in Europe.
In terms of Health Sciences, the UA offers degrees in Medicine, Nursing, Speech Therapy (starting next year), Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Optics and Optometry; while at the UMH, one can study Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Activity and Sports Sciences.
Mazón further indicated that the objective also includes promoting the introduction of other qualifications, such as Dentistry, a degree highlighted by the Minister of Health, Marciano Gómez, during his visit to Alicante.
The proposal aims to quell the controversy that arose in Alicante when the Consell backed away from the lawsuit filed by the UMH against medical studies in Alicante, which effectively means consenting to the position of the University of Elche.
Places in the Community
In the Valencian Community, as per the latest available statistics, the total number of places for new students in the degree of Medicine at public and private universities exceeds 850 places.
The public universities include the UA with 86 places; Miguel Hernández University with 130 places; Universitat Jaume I of Castellón with 80 places; and the University of Valencia with 320 places; alongside the private institutions of Cardenal Herrera-CEU (Castellón) with 70 places; Cardenal Herrera-CEU University (Alfara-Valencia) with 50 places; and the Catholic University of Valencia (Valencia) with 120 places.
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Los medical studies offered by the University of Alicante (UA) and Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) have recently come under scrutiny following the decision of the Consell de Mazón on August 2 to withdraw from legal proceedings challenging the degree program at the UA. This move has raised questions regarding the neutrality of the Generalitat, particularly in light of its implications for the ongoing rivalry between the two institutions.
The situation is particularly interesting given that the two universities are located just a few kilometers apart, leading to concerns about duplicity in academic offerings. This duplicity dates back to the 1990s when the Consell del Botànic allowed the UA to regain its medical degree, which had been forfeited earlier. Currently, the UA is poised to welcome 86 new students for its medical program in the upcoming academic year, contributing to a total of 172 students across two cohorts. However, the demand for these spots is immense, evidenced by a waiting list of 4,095 applicants.
Seven Common Degrees
The issue of overlapping programs is not limited to medicine. A review of the degree offerings from both universities, based on the degree comparator from the Ministry of Universities – National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), reveals that a total of seven degrees are available at both institutions.
- Medicine
- Marketing (UMH: Marketing and Commercial Management)
- Labor Relations and Human Resources
- Physical Activity and Sports Sciences
- Business Administration and Management
- Law
- Advertising and Public Relations (UMH: Communication and Public Relations)
In addition to these overlapping degrees, some programs appear similar but differ slightly in their focus. For instance, the UA offers degrees in Sound Engineering and Computer Engineering, while the UMH has degrees in Information Technology.
At the doctoral level, however, the overlap is less pronounced. The UA has a program in Health Sciences, whereas the UMH offers doctorates in Public Health, Medical, and Surgical Sciences. There is a notable difference in engineering fields as well; the UA has a dedicated program in Robotics Engineering, while the UMH provides a master’s in Robotics instead.
Interuniversity Campus
Recently, President Carlos Mazón proposed the establishment of an interuniversity health campus that would include health-related degrees from both institutions. This initiative aims to position the province as a leading health cluster in Europe.
In terms of health sciences, the UA offers various programs, including Medicine, Nursing, Speech Therapy (which will commence next year), Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Optics and Optometry. The UMH, on the other hand, provides programs in Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Occupational Therapy, alongside Physical Activity and Sports Sciences.
Furthermore, future plans involve expanding the academic offerings to include degrees in Dentistry, a topic highlighted during a recent visit to Alicante by Health Minister Marciano Gómez.
The creation of an interuniversity health campus could serve as a strategic effort to mitigate the controversy surrounding the Consell’s withdrawal from the lawsuit initiated by the UMH against the UA’s medical studies, effectively acknowledging the position of the University of Elche.
Available Places for Medical Studies in the Community
In the Valencian Community, recent data indicate that the number of new student places in Medicine degrees across both public and private institutions exceeds 850. The distribution of these places is as follows:
| University | Available Places |
|---|---|
| University of Alicante (UA) | 86 |
| Miguel Hernández University (UMH) | 130 |
| Universitat Jaume I (UJI) | 80 |
| University of Valencia (UV) | 320 |
| Cardenal Herrera-CEU (Castellón) | 70 |
| Cardenal Herrera-CEU (Alfara-Valencia) | 50 |
| Catholic University of Valencia | 120 |
This distribution highlights the competitive nature of medical education in the Valencian Community, generating significant interest from prospective students.
As this landscape continues to evolve, the interplay between the University of Alicante and Miguel Hernández University remains a critical topic within higher education circles, impacting not just the institutions themselves but also the broader community that relies on healthcare services.
