Unachi transition: Budget and accreditations mark first meeting with elected rector

A crucial transition meeting took place on Monday, August 24, between the newly elected rector of the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi), Absel Navarro, and the interim rector, Pedro González Beerman. The gathering aimed to establish a coordinated handover of information and responsibilities.

Teams from both administrations participated, focusing on financial and administrative matters, as well as ongoing university projects. A primary discussion point was the university's budget, which is slated for presentation to the National Assembly the following week after review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The recent administrative accreditations granted to approximately 100 Unachi officials were also analyzed.

Interim Rector González Beerman defended the accreditation process, asserting that it adhered to the university's established norms and represented a cycle completion for the current administration. He noted that these accreditations grant officials permanent status.

Conversely, the rector-elect, Absel Navarro, indicated that he would reserve final judgment on the accreditations until administrative processes, potentially involving the Comptroller General's Office, are concluded. Navarro stressed the need for thorough analysis of these procedures, stating his administration's priority is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the university's condition before making definitive decisions. "We have initiated the transition process to lay the groundwork for a coordinated handover and to make the first decisions for this university," Navarro stated.

Navarro also announced plans to officially reveal his accompanying team on Tuesday and expressed his intention to meet with the Executive branch to present his team's capabilities and discuss the university's main challenges. The transition process is set to continue over the coming weeks with ongoing information exchange.

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We have initiated the transition process to lay the groundwork for a coordinated handover and to make the first decisions for this university.