Canary Islands renew governance and oversight at both public universities

Editorial recommendation

What to do

From 27 October, both Social Councils and the university bodies and services preparing relevant files must apply the new regulations. Reports are generally due within thirty calendar days, reduced to fifteen days for urgent matters and seven days for duly reasoned cases of extreme urgency.

Verified facts

Territory, instrument, publication and legal status

Canary Islands. Decree 153/2026 of 19 October approves the Organisation and Operating Regulations of the Social Council of the University of La Laguna. Decree 154/2026 of the same date does so for the Social Council of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Both decrees were published in issue 214 of the Canary Islands Official Gazette on 26 October 2026 and are scheduled to enter into force on 27 October. They are approved and published regulations, not drafts, guidance, recommendations, voluntary calls or announcements. They replace the previous regulations governing both Social Councils.

Decree 153/2026 · University of La LagunaDecree 154/2026 · University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Verified facts

What changes

• The composition, organisation and operation of the Social Councils are aligned with Organic Law 2/2023 on the University System and amended Canary Islands legislation.
• Their strategic planning and monitoring, economic and budgetary supervision, approval of accounts and audit-based control powers are organised in detail.
• Transparency, good governance, academic integrity, fraud prevention and risk management are expressly incorporated.
• Prior reports are regulated for matters including the creation or closure of centres and structures, official programmes, affiliated teaching centres and student progression and continuation rules.

Verified facts

Who is affected

The regulations directly affect the Social Councils of the University of La Laguna and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, their members, committees and support bodies, and the university bodies and services that must submit information or files for reporting, approval or supervision.

They also affect institutional processing of budgets, accounts, strategic plans, university structures, official programmes, affiliated centres and progression and continuation rules. They create no new duties for schools and do not amend the regional school-bullying or cyberbullying protocols.

Verified facts

Required action and time limits

• 27 October 2026: both decrees commence and the new regulations apply.
• Thirty calendar days: general period for the Social Council to issue a requested report.
• Fifteen calendar days: period for matters declared urgent.
• Seven calendar days: period for duly reasoned cases of extreme urgency.
• Files must contain the documents and information needed for the Social Council to exercise its reporting, approval and supervisory functions.

Context and timetable

Practical scope and limits

The decrees reorganise the social governance and oversight of two specified public universities. They do not independently alter the general rights and protocols in the University Student Statute or replace national university legislation.

The portal's school-bullying protocol tool is unchanged because it is designed for non-university schools and child safeguarding. The development is instead added to the Canary Islands regulatory profile as a specific university-governance update.